Coach Ivica Osim has unveiled his 23-man squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup as Japan look for a third consecutive continental title this July.
Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura, Eintracht Frankfurt forward Naohiro Takahara, Jubilo Iwata goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, Yokohama F. Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa, Gamba Osaka's Akira Kaji, Sanfrecce Hiroshima's Yuichi Komano and Gamba midfielder Yasuhito Endo all remain in the squad.
JEF United Chiba's Japan Under-22 midfielder Koki Mizuno, Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and Albirex Niigata forward Kisho Yano were also included after Osim was forced to reduce his squad from 30 ahead of the tournament.
Urawa Reds defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka and JEF United defender Hiroki Mizuno were left out after missing the recent training camp due to injury.
Gamba midfielder Akihiro Ienaga, Nagoya Grampus Eight's Keisuke Honda, FC Tokyo's Masahiko Inoha, Jubilo forward Ryoichi Maeda and Shimizu S-Pulse goalkeeper Yohei Nishibe were also left out by Osim.
The squad will meet on Sunday for a three day training camp before heading to Hanoi for their opening game against Qatar on July 9 before facing Gulf Cup champions UAE and co-hosts Vietnam in Group B.
Japan squad for AFC Asian Cup: Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata), Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale); Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos), Tsuboi (Urawa Reds), Kaji (Gamba Osaka), Komano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima); Nakamura (Celtic), Hashimoto (Gamba Osaka), Hanyu (JEF United Chiba), Endo (Gamba Osaka), Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Suzuki (Urawa Reds), Abe (Urawa Reds), Konno (FC Tokyo), Yamagishi (JEF United Chiba), Ota (Jubilo Iwata), Mizuno (JEF United Chiba); Takahara (Eintracht Frankfurt), Bando (Gamba Osaka), Maki (JEF United Chiba), Sato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Yano (Albirex Niigata).
JEF United Chiba's Japan Under-22 midfielder Koki Mizuno, Kawasaki Frontale goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and Albirex Niigata forward Kisho Yano were also included after Osim was forced to reduce his squad from 30 ahead of the tournament.
Urawa Reds defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka and JEF United defender Hiroki Mizuno were left out after missing the recent training camp due to injury.
Gamba midfielder Akihiro Ienaga, Nagoya Grampus Eight's Keisuke Honda, FC Tokyo's Masahiko Inoha, Jubilo forward Ryoichi Maeda and Shimizu S-Pulse goalkeeper Yohei Nishibe were also left out by Osim.
The squad will meet on Sunday for a three day training camp before heading to Hanoi for their opening game against Qatar on July 9 before facing Gulf Cup champions UAE and co-hosts Vietnam in Group B.
Japan squad for AFC Asian Cup: Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata), Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale); Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos), Tsuboi (Urawa Reds), Kaji (Gamba Osaka), Komano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima); Nakamura (Celtic), Hashimoto (Gamba Osaka), Hanyu (JEF United Chiba), Endo (Gamba Osaka), Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Suzuki (Urawa Reds), Abe (Urawa Reds), Konno (FC Tokyo), Yamagishi (JEF United Chiba), Ota (Jubilo Iwata), Mizuno (JEF United Chiba); Takahara (Eintracht Frankfurt), Bando (Gamba Osaka), Maki (JEF United Chiba), Sato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Yano (Albirex Niigata).
Copyright (c) Press Association
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