We will introduce in detail all 26 members of the Japanese national team who will be participating in the soccer World Cup Qatar tournament.
Director Moriyasu did not mention the positions other than the goalkeeper in detail, but based on the selection of members for the warm-up game in September, the players are arranged by position.
Eiji Kawashima
Eiji Kawashima is 39 years old from Saitama City.
He is a goalkeeper who belongs to Strasbourg in the French first division.
It is the fourth time in a row that he has been selected for the World Cup squad.
He is known for his high defensive ability that prevents shots with accurate predictions, and has played the full 300 minutes in all three World Cup tournaments in a row until the last tournament in Russia.
Although he has limited opportunities to participate in the qualifying rounds and warm-up games for this tournament, he is expected to play a role in supporting the team mentally based on his extensive experience and achievements as a core player of the Japan national team for many years.
[Main representative careers]
▽2018 World Cup Russia ▽2014 World Cup Brazil ▽2010 World Cup South Africa ▽2003 U-20 World Cup
Shuichi Gonda
Shuichi Gonda is 33 years old from Tokyo.
He is a goalkeeper who belongs to Shimizu S-Pulse of J1.
It is the second time he has been selected for the World Cup squad, following Brazil in 2014.
After making his debut with FC Tokyo in J1, he has the experience of playing in overseas leagues such as Austria and Portugal.
At the 2012 London Olympics, he participated in the under-23 national team and contributed to Japan's advance to the quarterfinals by shutting out four games up to the quarterfinals.
He has made 33 appearances for the Japan national team, which has no age limit, and has started nine times in the final Asian qualifiers for this tournament.
He injured his back in a warm-up match with the United States in September this year and withdrew from the national team, but this time he joined the team.
[Main representative career]
▽2014 World Cup Brazil ▽2012 London Olympics
schmidt daniel
Schmidt Daniel is 30 years old from the United States.
He is a goalkeeper who belongs to Sint-Truiden in the Belgian First Division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
Taking advantage of his height of 1m 97cm, he can respond to long balls and has an accurate kick that is the starting point of an attack. It is showing activity.
In the warm-up match against Ecuador held in September, they increased their presence by stopping the opponent's penalty kicks and keeping a clean sheet.
[Main representative career]
None in particular
Yuto Nagatomo
Yuto Nagatomo is 35 years old from Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture.
He is a defender who belongs to FC Tokyo in J1.
It is the fourth time in a row that he has been selected for the World Cup squad.
He is an experienced full-back who has played for many years at European powerhouse clubs such as Inter Milan in the first division of Italy and Marseille in the first division of France. contribute.
He plays an active role as a full-back for the Japanese national team who can play both left and right, and has played in 137 games (*as of November 1, 2022), which is the second highest in the history so far.
He has played in the World Cup three times in a row since the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, and is aiming to become the first Japanese national team player to play in four consecutive games.
[Main representative career]
▽2018 World Cup Russia ▽2014 World Cup Brazil ▽2010 World Cup South Africa ▽2003 U-20 World Cup
Maya Yoshida
Maya Yoshida is 34 years old from Nagasaki city.
He is a defender who belongs to Schalke in the first division of Germany.
It is the third time in a row that he has been selected for the World Cup squad.
In the Japan national team, he plays a central role in defense as a center back who mainly protects near the center of the back line, and also holds the team together as a captain with his inherent leadership.
He is 1m 89cm tall and has a lot of experience playing overseas, such as the English Premier League and the Italian first division league.
He has participated in 121 games for the Japan national team so far, which is the 4th place in history (*as of November 1, 2022).
At last year's Tokyo Olympics, he joined the team as an overage frame with no age restrictions, and has earned the trust of Director Moriyasu, including serving as captain.
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics ▽2018 World Cup Russia ▽2014 World Cup Brazil ▽2012 London Olympics ▽2008 Beijing Olympics
Hiroki Sakai
Hiroki Sakai is 32 years old from Chiba Prefecture.
He is a defender who belongs to J1's Urawa Red Diamonds.
It is the third time in a row that he has been selected for the World Cup squad.
In addition to his physical strength, he has a reputation for a great amount of exercise and accurate crossballs.
He plays mainly as a right-back for the Japan national team, and has participated in a total of 71 games (as of November 1, 2022).
Partly due to the injury, he was absent from the national team after participating in the final Asian qualifier match against Saudi Arabia in February this year, but he returned in September's activities and started in the warm-up match against the United States. He showed a steady recovery, showing strong defense in a one-on-one situation.
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics ▽2018 World Cup Russia ▽2014 World Cup Brazil ▽2012 London Olympics
Shogo Taniguchi
Shogo Taniguchi is 31 years old from Kumamoto City.
He is a defender who belongs to Kawasaki Frontale of J1.
This time, he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
He is a center back who protects the middle of the back line with a strong sense of stability that does not lose hits.
In 2015, he was called up for the first time to the Japanese national team and played two games. In 2017, he played one game. Now it continues.
In the final Asian qualifier match against Saudi Arabia held in February this year, while Maya Yoshida and Takehiro Tomiyasu, who had been the main starting pitchers until then, were absent due to injuries, he participated and won the team shutout. led to
He also served as captain of the team at Frontale, contributing to J1's second consecutive victory until last season, and was selected as the best eleven for the second year in a row.
[Main representative career]
None in particular
Visit Yamane
Miki Yamane is 28 years old from Yokohama City.
He is a defender who plays for Kawasaki Frontale in J1.
This time, he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
As a right-back, he is known for his tenacious defensive strength and aggressive participation in offense.
In his warm-up match against South Korea in Yokohama last March, he made his debut as a member of the Japanese national team and scored the opening goal in the first half.
As a right-back at Frontale, he contributed to J1's two consecutive wins until last season, and has been selected as the best eleven for the second year in a row.
[Main representative career]
None in particular
Kou Itakura
Ko Itakura is 25 years old from Yokohama City.
He is a defender for Mönchengladbach in the German first division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
In addition to tenacious one-on-one defense, he is strong in aerial combat.
He is also a good passer and can play central midfield defensive midfield as well.
He has participated in a total of 12 matches* for the Japanese national team, and in the match against Brazil on the 6th of last month, he played a central back against Neymar and others (*as of November 1, 2022). ).
In Mönchengladbach, Germany's 1st Division, which joined this season, he was appointed as the starting lineup at the center back from the opening game, and was responsible for the main force. He did not participate in the Japan national team's training camp in September, and focused on recovering from his injury in preparation for the finals.
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics
▽2017 U-20 World Cup
Yuta Nakayama
Yuta Nakayama is 25 years old from Ibaraki Prefecture.
He is a defender who plays for Huddersfield in the second division of England.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
He is known for his tenacious and steady defense and accurate passing, and he has competed with veteran player Yuto Nagatomo for the left-back position in preparation for the World Cup, and has continued to appeal in warm-up games.
With the Japan national team, he has participated in 17 games* in all national team matches with no age restrictions, and was selected as a member of the Tokyo Olympics, contributing to the team advancing to the best four (*as of November 1, 2022).
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics ▽2017 U-20 World Cup
Takehiro Tomiyasu
Takehiro Tomiyasu is 23 years old from Fukuoka prefecture.
He is a defender who plays for Arsenal in the English Premier League.
This time, he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
Taking advantage of his height of 1m 87cm, he is a competitive player in aerial battles, one-on-one strength, and speed.
He hadn't had a chance to play for the Japanese national team since the final Asian qualifiers last November due to injuries to his calves and thighs. and appealed for the first time in recovery (* age as of November 1, 2022).
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics ▽2017 U-20 World Cup
Hiroki Ito
Hiroki Ito is 23 years old from Shizuoka prefecture.
He is a defender who belongs to Stuttgart in the German first division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
With a height of 1m 88cm, he has a reputation for his strong defense, speed, and long pass accuracy.
He started his professional career at Jubilo Iwata in the J League, where he played mainly as a midfielder. was invited to
[Main representative career]
▽2019 U-20 World Cup
Mount Shibasaki
Gaku Shibasaki is 30 years old from Aomori Prefecture.
A midfielder who plays for Leganes in the Spanish second division.
This is the second time in a row that the team has been selected for the World Cup squad.
His specialty is accurate passing that makes use of his wide field of vision, and since being selected for the first time in 2012, he has played in 59 games* for the Japanese national team (*as of November 1, 2022).
At the previous tournament in Russia, I started in all four matches from the primary league to the final tournament.
Ahead of this tournament, he has had many opportunities to sit on the bench during the final round of the Asian qualifiers, but his experience and skills from playing for the national team for many years have been highly evaluated.
[Main representative career]
▽2018 World Cup Russia ▽2009 U-17 World Cup
Wataru Endo
Wataru Endo is 29 years old from Kanagawa Prefecture.
He is a midfielder who plays for Stuttgart in the German first division.
It is the second time in a row that he has been selected for the World Cup squad.
In addition to his strength on the ball and the ability to steal the ball, he has improved his ability to keep the ball in the German 1st division, and has played in one-on-one situations called "duels" for two consecutive seasons until last season. The number of wins shone in the league top.
He played mainly as a defensive midfielder for the Japanese national team, and has played in 28 matches in total*, playing a pivotal role in both offense and defense.In the final Asian qualifiers, after deciding to participate in the finals, he was appointed as the starter in all matches except for the match against Vietnam (*2022). as of November 1, 2019).
Manager Moriyasu has a lot of trust in him, and he will also serve as the game captain in games where Yoshida Maya is absent.
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics ▽2018 World Cup Russia ▽2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Junya Ito
Junya Ito is 29 years old from Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture.
He plays for Stade Reims in the French First Division, where he plays as a forward and midfielder.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
He is a player on the right who is best at dribbling with his speed, and is best at assisting goals with highly accurate cross balls, but he also excels at cutting inside and scoring goals himself. I'm out.
In the final round of the Asian qualifiers, he scored goals in four consecutive games, tying the most for any Japanese player, and greatly contributed to the team's participation in the World Cup.
Japan scored 12 goals in 10 matches in the final Asian qualifiers, and Ito scored 4 goals, which is the team's most.
Also, in Stud Lance, who joined this season with expectations as a central player in the offense, he has continued to perform well, scoring goals in two league games in a row. He showed his presence by being the starting point of the opening goal in warm-up games.
[Main representative career]
None in particular
Takuma Asano
Takuma Asano is 27 years old from Komono Town, Mie Prefecture.
He is a forward for Bochum in the German first division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
In addition to his outstanding speed and ability to poke behind opponents' defenses, he is also known for his ability to defend from the front using his stamina.
In the previous tournament in Russia, I was called up to the national team until the warm-up match just before, but I was not selected.
He was injured in a match for his club in September and was sidelined, but he made it into the squad.
[Main representative career]
▽2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics
Takumi Minamino
Takumi Minamino is 27 years old from Osaka.
He plays as a forward and midfielder for Monaco in the French first division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
In addition to shooting and passing accuracy, he is a player with high dribbling skills, and can handle multiple offensive positions such as the side and under the top.
He also has extensive experience playing for clubs abroad such as Liverpool in the English Premier League.
So far, he has participated in 43 matches* for the Japan national team, and has scored 17 goals by taking advantage of his offensive ability (*as of November 1, 2022).
[Main representative career]
▽2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics ▽2011 U-17 World Cup
Hidemasa Morita
Hidemasa Morita is 27 years old from Osaka Prefecture.
He is a midfielder who plays for Sporting in the Portuguese first division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
His strengths are his defensive ability to steal the ball from the opponent, his accurate passes that serve as starting points for offense, and his ability to make quick decisions, such as reacting to a loose ball.
He has participated in 17 matches* for the Japanese national team so far, supporting the midfield with Wataru Endo and others in the final Asian qualifiers, and contributed greatly to Japan's 7th straight tournament appearance (*November 1, 2022) point in time).
[Main representative career]
None in particular
Daichi Kamada
Daichi Kamata is 26 years old from Ehime Prefecture.
He is a midfielder who plays for Frankfurt in the German first division.
This time, he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
His footing skills and passing accuracy are high, and he is good at assembling attacks in the middle of the field.
He is also good at positioning himself in front of goal and can also score himself with a highly accurate shot.
Last season in Frankfurt, they participated in the Europa League, the second largest competition after the European Champions League, and contributed to the team's first victory in 42 years by defeating Barcelona, a powerhouse in the first division of Spain.
He has been in good form since the beginning of the season, scoring six goals after 10 games, surpassing his own record for goals in the season.
In the Japan national team's warm-up match against the United States in September, he was appointed as the commander of the attack and was appointed as the starting lineup as a "top under" and marked the opening goal, demonstrating his presence.
[Main representative career]
None in particular
Yuki Soma
Yuki Soma is 25 years old from Tokyo.
He plays for Nagoya Grampus in J1 and plays as a midfielder and forward at the club.
Although he is small with a height of 1.66 cm, he is good at playing on the flanks with his ability to dribble by making use of his abundant momentum and speed, and to get behind the opponents.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
As a member of the Japan national team, he played with only J-League players, and scored three goals at the East Asian Championship in July, becoming the MVP of the tournament and the top scorer.
Before the lineup was announced in September, in his last warm-up match against Ecuador, he appeared as a substitute and appealed by revitalizing the attacking team with his strong dribble breakthrough.
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics
Kaoru Mitoma
Kaoru Mitoma is 25 years old from Kawasaki City.
He is a midfielder who plays for Brighton in the English Premier League.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
His greatest characteristic is dribbling breakthrough with slow speed, and his offensive sense that leads to high-precision passes and shots shines.
Brighton of the English Premier League, who joined this season, has shown his presence by participating mainly as a side player and revitalizing the attack with his good dribble breakthrough.
In the Japanese national team, he made his first appearance in the final Asian qualifier against Oman in November last year and assisted the winning goal. .
He scored 5 goals in a total of 9 games*, including scoring a goal in the warm-up match against the United States in September, which was his most recent activity, and is expected to be a trump card for offense (*November 2022). 1 day).
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics
Daizen Maeda
Daizen Maeda is 25 years old from Osaka.
He is a forward for Celtic in the Scottish Premier League.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
Using his speedy pace of 50 meters and 5 seconds, he is known for his movement behind the defense.
He scored 23 goals last season for J1's Yokohama F. Marinos, his first ever top scorer and best eleven, and was selected for the Tokyo Olympics.
He has been playing for Celtic since January this year, and last season he scored six goals in the league match, and this season he has steadily accumulated experience, such as participating in the European Champions League, which competes for the top of European club teams. I'm in.
He scored his first goal for the Japan national team against Ghana in June this year, and showed his presence in the match against the United States in September by creating chances for his allies from his fierce defense.
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics
Law of Doan
Ritsu Doan is 24 years old from Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture.
He is a midfielder who plays for Freiburg in the German first division.
This time he was selected for the World Cup squad for the first time.
He is an attacking midfielder who skillfully uses his dominant left foot to dribble powerfully and has excellent shooting skills.
He joined Freiburg in the first division of Germany this season, and is leading the team as a main force, scoring a goal in the opening game of the league.
At last year's Tokyo Olympics, he carried the ace number 10 on his back and played a central role in the offense, and has played in a total of 28 matches for the Japanese national team*, scoring 3 goals (*as of November 1, 2022).
[Main representative career]
▽2020 Tokyo Olympics ▽2017 U-20 World Cup
Kiyo Ueda
上田綺世選手は茨城県出身の24歳。ベルギー1部リーグの、セルクルブリュージュに所属するフォワードです。今回、初めてワールドカップのメンバーに選ばれました。
ディフェンスの背後を狙う動きにすぐれ、身長1メートル82センチの高さを生かしたヘディングや、強烈なシュートも持ち味としています。J1の鹿島アントラーズでは今シーズン途中までで10得点をマークし、7月にセルクルブリュージュに移籍しました。去年の東京オリンピックのメンバーにも選ばれ、準々決勝のニュージーランドとのペナルティーキック戦では1人目としてゴールを決め、勝利に貢献しました。
【主な代表歴】
▽2020 東京五輪
田中碧
田中碧選手は川崎市出身の24歳。ドイツ2部リーグのデュッセルドルフに所属するミッドフィルダーです。今回、初めてワールドカップのメンバーに選ばれました。精度の高いパスを駆使した攻撃の組み立てを持ち味とし、ゲームをコントロールする能力にたけた中盤の選手で、去年の東京オリンピックでは攻守でチームを支えるボランチとしてすべての試合に先発出場しました。去年10月に行われたアジア最終予選のオーストラリア戦で中盤の一角として先発に抜てきされると先制ゴールを挙げるなど活躍しました。そこから田中選手が先発した6試合でチームは6連勝し、日本のワールドカップ出場を決めた立て役者の1人になりました。
【主な代表歴】
▽2020 東京五輪
久保建英
久保建英選手は川崎市出身の21歳。スペイン1部リーグ、レアルソシエダードに所属するミッドフィルダーです。今回、初めてワールドカップのメンバーに選ばれました。利き足の左足から繰り出す緩急自在のドリブルに加えて、パスやシュートの技術も高いミッドフィルダーです。日本代表では18歳と5日と史上2番目の若さでデビューを果たすと、ここまで通算※19試合に出場し、1得点をマークしています（※2022年11月1日時点）。今シーズンから加入したレアルソシエダードではツートップの一角や左サイドとして起用され、開幕戦で決勝ゴールを挙げるなど、好調をキープしています。9月に行われたアメリカとの強化試合では左サイドとして先発出場するとトップ下に入った鎌田大地選手とのコンビネーションで相手ゴールに迫り、好調ぶりを示していました。
【主な代表歴】
▽2020 東京五輪 ▽2017 U-20W杯 ▽2017 U-17W杯
森保一監督
Director Hajime Moriyasu is 54 years old from Nagasaki City.
It will be his first time as a coach at the World Cup.
He led J1 side Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three league titles, and assisted Akira Nishino as coach of the Japan national team at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, after which he took over as coach.
He also coached the team at last summer's Tokyo Olympics and advanced to the top four for the first time in two tournaments, but lost to Spain in the semi-finals and Mexico in the third-place match, failing to win a medal for the first time in 53 years.
The Asian Final Qualifiers, which started in September last year, had a tough start with 1 win and 2 losses, but after changing the formation in the match against Australia in October, the team rebuilt and won 6 straight games to qualify for 7 straight tournaments. decided.
The Japanese coaches who have led the World Cup so far are Takeshi Okada, who coached the team in France in 1998 and South Africa in 2010, and Akira Nishino, who led the team in Russia in 2018. There are two people, but both were due to the fact that the previous director retired in the middle of his term.
Coach Moriyasu was appointed four years ago and has been tasked with building the team for the long term.