Goalkeepers
Eiji Kawashima, Shusaku Nishikawa, Shuichi Gonda
This was a pretty straight forward selection brief for
Zaccheroni, as all three had been permanently present in his squads for the
past year. Kawashima will be first choice, with a wealth of experience to call
on, he also has timely hit some of his best form for his club side. Nishikawa
is the regular back up, while Gonda will be there to gain experience. The
number one keeper for Japan’s Olympic side in 2012 is tipped highly to take
over from Kawashima, once he retires.
Full Backs
Atsuto Uchida, Yuto Nagatomo, Hiroki Sakai, Gotoku Sakai
Again Zaccheroni has plumped with the four regulars of
recent squads. The only doubt coming into the announcement was the extent of
right back Atsuto Uchida’s thigh injury which has kept him out since February.
Zaccheroni stated in the release that it was worth the risk on the few injury
doubts ahead of the World Cup and so Uchida is likely to start. Nagatomo will
predictably take up the left hand side of the defence, while Hiroki and Gotoku
Sakai will prove decent cover in reserve. The duo who have improved immensely
in Germany this season, have flexibility on their side with capability of playing
down either flank, but will want to eradicate some recent errors out of their
game if they’re called upon.
Centre Backs
Maya Yoshida, Yasuyuki Konno, Masato Morishige, Masahiko
Inoha
Assuming Yoshida will return from a knee injury in time for
the tournament’s kick off, which is widely expected, the only question will be
who will partner him in the centre. Konno has been regularly by his side
throughout qualification and the recent Confederations Cup, however lacks the
presence on the ground of the newly invigorated Morishige who would fit
perfectly into Japan’s passing game. Konno has commitment, timing and
international experience on his side, but Morishige has recently been used to
create tempo from the back. Inoha has been selected as flexible cover, as he
can take up any position across the back four and in defensive midfield.
Centre Midfielders
Makoto Hasebe, Yasuhito Endo, Hotaru Yamaguchi, Toshihiro
Aoyama
Zaccheroni’s final but most worrying injury scare is that
of captain Makoto Hasebe who will for all Japan’s hopes take up a deep lying
position next to Yasuhito Endo. A knee injury that has kept him out since
January has since worsened, however his importance has been so pivotal to
Japan’s recent successes, Hasebe is likely to be rushed back for the group
stage. If their fears are answered, there are two options in reserve. Yamaguchi
is a stylish player with great passing ability and impressed in last year’s
East Asian Cup, while Aoyama is more of a sitter who is better at breaking up
play. Endo who will start in the centre will be tasked with much of Japan’s
dead ball situations and tasked to start off attacking plays.
Attacking Midfielders
Shinji Okazaki, Keisuke Honda, Shinji Kagawa, Hiroshi
Kiyotake, Manabu Saito
Arguably Japan’s strongest area in the starting line-up,
much will be expected of the attacking three behind a lone forward. Top goal
scorer in qualification Okazaki has impressed since moving to Mainz this season
as a traditional number 9 which gives a further option for Zaccheroni to move
him forward from the right flank. Honda will take up a central role, with a
possibility of being used as a false 9, as he was versus Brazil in the
Confederations Cup. Kagawa will join them on the left in a devastating trio.
Kiyotake is usually the first name to appear from the bench and offers a
similar sort of attacking guile as the starting midfield. Saito is the joker in
the pack, after being picked ahead of Takashi Inui to offer a pacey alternative
down the left.
Centre Forwards
Yoichiro Kakitani, Yuya Osako, Yoshito Okubo
Over the past six months Zaccheroni has made it clear he
is prioritising youth in attack spurred on by a victorious campaign in the East
Asian Cup last year. Kakitani and Osako were the stars of that tournament and
have alternated in attack ever since. Kakitani seems to have the edge at the
moment but has yet to find form domestically in 2014, while Osako has been
scintillating in front of goal since his move to Germany in January. Okubo is
the surprise call up after only one appearance in four years for the national
team. He has the experience of going to a World Cup where he will be hoped to
guide the younger players through the tournament and to be called upon late on
in games if needed.
Verdict
Zaccheroni will only be aware of the consequences of
bringing in a number of injury concerns when the squad meets up later this
week. It’s clear, in defensive positions especially that Japan have little
depth and will be relying on the fitness of their key defenders. In reserve he
has opted for flexibility, with a number of players being able to cover a range
of positions and styles if called upon. Of those who have missed out, the
dynamism of Hajime Hosogai, who had been used as a regular substitute maybe
missed, as will a target man such as Ryo Maeda or Mike Havenaar who had been
present during qualification.
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