No Nagatomo ! But his coach also said he is more or less a must have for the JNT, cause he believes he is still great and that he hope, he gets a call up.
I don't watch J League games but I do watch highlights sometimes, he is barely playing, mostly comes off the bench occasionally but FC Tokyo is having a good season at least.
Yuito Suzuki believes that he can make the World cup. This is what the player himself said after Freiburg vs Braga https://www.soccerdigestweb.com/news/detail/id=190271
Hmm but did we need him after 4-5 weeks without a game and not fully fit. I hope he will secluded. It's to risky.
We have to deal likely with a Mitoma miss at the WC. What do you guys think will change that for us ? He is a key player but do you objectively think we can compensate him almost ? Is a good WC run still possible ? I am interested in your opinions.
Something similar to that Brazil friendly probably which Mitoma missed so Tanaka-Kubo with Nakamura and Doan on the wings.
Yes I can see Nakamura at left wing back. Who do you think will be Mitoma's replacement if he doesn't make it?
Not necessarily left-wing back in a 3-4-2-1 system but rather left midfielder (LM) in a changing formation. As for who replaces Mitoma, I think Moriyasu is likely to stick with the same group of players as before so likely Nakamura instead of Mitoma plus a player from the J-League maybe like Soma.
No offense but if he calls up Soma that would be dreadful. He's a good J-Leaguer but compared to our top attackers he's a big drop off. I'd rather have Junya Ito switch to the left side and call up Ryunosuke Sato
Well yes I would prefer that too but I guess what I meant to say is that I wouldn't be surprised if Moriyasu calls up someone like Soma.
Is there any player in the J League who is similar to Mitoma, a youngster maybe who could do some thing if a breakout at the WC ? I would prefer Shunsuke Mito if no ones is available. Another crazy idea/question. Could be Takashi Inui do another miracle ? Don't think it will happen but did he still got the magic theoretically? I would say at 2018 he was equal to Mitoma.
Yes in 2018 he was definitely equal if not better than Mitoma but in the meantime 8 years have gone by...
With Minamino out vs England it was Nakamura who played as LWB (and it is LWB, not just LM) and Mitoma who played further up, in MInamino's old spot, whatever that spot is called, japanese commentators say "shadow". IF Mitoma is out, Nakamura should logically advance to that spot. LWB then.. a mystery. Suzuki? Moriyasu tried him a few minutes there last time around. Or keep Nakamura there, he did well, even if like with Mitoma it's a bit of a waste to play him so far back, but Maeda up front. Then more like Minamino, less creation, but more hope for scoring. Or Kodai Sano. But are we sure Mitoma is out? I sort of think that Moriyasu will call up Minamino, Endo and Mitoma on the 15th. To then drop them if their fitness isn't much improved 2 weeks later. But since Japan wants to go deep, the tournament takes forever, he might actually take 1 or even 2 guys that won't be fit for the first round, hoping to have them for later. Not sure if that makes sense, fear it doesn't, but can imagine him doing that. Soma won't be called.
J.Ito in the left, he can play both sides with no drop of quality. And behind Nakamura and in the right side Kubo and behind Doan. I would say that's the best thing, cause Kubo is a Mitoma like guy who can decide a game on his own with a weaker finishing skill. With that we don't have switch out system.
By the way there are rumours that Yuma Suzuki might join JNT for WC. His coach said he would be surprised if he didn't get a call up. Very unlikely I would say, almost impossible but I would love to have him there.
About 30 days until the first game against the Netherlands, it's possible but we don't know the extent of his injury.