True, Kakitani has matured a lot as a player the last couple of season and probably has something to add (compared to those two). Uchida have only started 6 games this season, and is far from being fully fit. In those 6 games Kashima conceded 9 goals, while they only conceded 7 goals in the 8 games he didnt play. Kashima as a whole have had big problems so far this with poor performances in the league and lots of injuries, but if there were to be any fullbacks from the J.League Uchida wouldn't be my first choice as of now. Maybe he can make it for the next Asian Cup?
It wasn't on a major tournament, but seeing Yusuke Minagawa playing against Uruguay in 2014 hurted my eyes.
The likes of Uchida, Asano and Ideguchi who hasn't really play much this season shouldn't really be in the squad imo. Kakitani may be a better option than either Kobayashi or even Usami. I hope Misao can be called up too. JNT can do with a player like him.
yeah, and another one is playing for Urawa Reds, who have had one of the worst defensive records among the top teams for several seasons now=) Maybe Kawasaki's Taniguchi could be a contender.
Nishino tried 3-4-3 formation during today's practice with the following formation (from right to left),: Yoshida - Hasebe - Makino. Haraguchi- Yamaguchi - Shibasaki - Nagatomo. Honda - Osako - Asano. Alternative formation (2): Kagawa in for Honda. Oshima in for Shibasaki. Hiroki Sakai in for Haraguchi. Shoji in for Makino. Alternative formation (3): Yoshida in the middle with Ueda in the right replacing the injured Hasebe (who injured himself during the practice). https://www.nikkansports.com/soccer/japan/news/201805260000796.html
Good heavens. Haraguchi, Asano and Osako? If that is the lineup at the WC Japan will end up with 0 goals scored.
The recent managers seem to have an obsession with Haraguchi, Asano and Osako. Would not be surprised at all if these are the ones starting. Talk about wasting talent.
Kawashima H.Sakai. Yoshida. Makino. Nagatomo Hasebe Kagawa Honda Inui Okazaki Maybe to offensive, but its the best Japan got. Maybe change with a more defensive midfielder.
You must be living in a different world if you think Misao has half the talent of Oshima. If Ryota wouldn't injure himself everytime he steps on the pitch, he'd be easily starting.
Yesterday's line-ups Yoshida - Hasebe - Makino. Hiroki Sakai- Yamaguchi - Shibasaki - Nagatomo. Haraguchi - Osako - Usami Alternative line-up (2): Yoshida - Hasebe - Shoji. Haraguchi- Yamaguchi - Oshima - Nagatomo. Honda - Okazaki - Kagawa. https://www.nikkansports.com/m/soccer/japan/photonews/photonews_nsInc_201805280000071-0.html
The final squad of 23 will be anoounced on Thursday 31 May (at 4 PM Japan time, 7 AM GMT). After Aoyama's injury, we have a squad of 26 (which means Nishino has to drop 3 players). Based on line-ups used by Nishino in the training camp: 1- I think that Muto will be dropped. 2- One midfielder will be dropped, it will be either Misao or Ideguchi, but most likely Misao will be dropped. 3- Either one attacking player/winger (Inui or Asano) or Ueda will be dropped, based on Nishino's inclination to be conservative or adventurous. 4- I think Wataru Endo will be kept as a utility player who can play as a CB in a 3-back formation, right wingback and defensive midfielder. 5- I would like to see Nakajima and Kubo in this squad, but I don't think Nishino is considering them.
My bet you are almost 100 % correct. Muto still belongs in Japans wc squad though. And based on the line ups I dont understand what the fkc he is doing. Anyone else does?
The 3-4-3 formation might not be such a bad idea. Theyh should be able to make good use of Makino in that case, and when defending the 2 wide players will drop making it effectively a 5-back line for a lot of the time. Not sure Shibasaki/Yamaguchi are good enough to be the holding midfielders though. Can easily see them being bullied by particularly Senegal and Poland. I would have liked to see Honda in one of those positions instead if that is the formation Nishino will go with. And if these lineups are anything to go by, it seems neither Muto or Inui will be given much play-time, and as mentioned by SW Muto might even be dropped altogether. That's just sad.
Many players? The JFA called up 17 oversea players but only 5 players (Kagawa, Okazaki, Ideguchi, Shibasaki and Asano) struggled to get starts this year. And Kagawa and Okazaki were injured. Here is an interesting team ranking based on club performance of the 23 most fielded players per team in the qualifying. Japan is ranked 21st out of the 32 teams. Statistically their squad isn't that bad.
Squad numbers for the Ghana friendly. GK 1 Kawashima 12 Higashiguchi 23 Nakamura DF 2 Endo 3 Shoji 5 Nagatomo 19 H. Sakai 20 Makino 21 G. Sakai 22 Yoshida 24 Ueda MF 4 Honda 7 Shibasaki 8 Haraguchi 10 Kagawa 11 Usami 13 Inui 16 Yamaguchi 17 Hasebe 18 Oshima 26 Misao 27 Ideguchi FW 9 Okazaki 13 Muto 15 Osako 25 Asano
My head hurts reading these two in the same sentence. I can't believe Osako will play his 2nd WC. He clearly doesn't deserved it. Like I thought, he proved himself to be a less effective version of Mirko Vucinic.