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Japan shuns Kagawa for bid to reclaim Asian Cup
TOKYO, Dec 12, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Japan dropped former Manchester United
star Shinji Kagawa from the Blue Samurai’s bid to reclaim the Asian Cup,
opting instead for a squad filled with young Europe-based talents.
Coach Hajime Moriyasu on Wednesday selected several players with only a
handful of caps to their names for Asia’s showcase football tournament in the
United Arab Emirates starting in January.
The likes of Ritsu Doan of Groningen, Shoya Nakajima of Portimonense and
Takumi Minamino of Salzburg will lead Japan’s bid for a record-extending
fifth title.
But there was no place for midfielder Kagawa, 29, now struggling for
playing time at Borussia Dortmund.
Kagawa has long been among the leading stars of Blue Samurai and at his
German outfit, but the attacking player has found himself unable to get
regular first-team football under Dortmund coach Lucien Favre.
He told Japanese media last month that he wished to move to Spain to take
on a new challenge.
Moriyasu suggested he had been tempted to turn to veterans like Kagawa, but
said he needed to pick players in their best form.
“Of course, I wanted help from experienced players, those who went to the
Russian World Cup and those who have led Japan for years,” Moriyasu told a
press conference.
“Many of the players whom we selected at this time have only limited
experiences. I have chosen them with hopes that they would take the ownership
of the team and build the national team themselves and fight for the title,”
he said.
However, the young squad will be supported by Werder Bremen striker Yuya
Osako and Galatasaray defender Yuto Nagatomo, both veterans of past World
Cups.
Japan won the Asian Cup in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011, but failed in the
last edition, won by Australia in 2015.
“Japan’s national team did not win the title last time. We will reclaim the
Asian Cup and bring back the title,” Moriyasu said.
Japan squad: Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka/JPN), Shuichi Gonda (Sagan
Tosu/JPN), Daniel Schmidt (Vegalta Sendai/JPN), Yuto Nagatomo
(Galatasaray/TUR), Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Red Diamonds/JPN), Maya Yoshida
(Southampton/ENG), Sho Sasaki (Sanfrecce Hiroshima/JPN), Hiroki Sakai
(Marseille/FRA), Sei Muroya (FC Tokyo/JPN), Genta Miura (Gamba Osaka/JPN),
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Sint-Truiden/BEL), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce
Hiroshima/JPN), Genki Haraguchi (Hannover96/GER), Gaku Shibasaki
(Getafe/ESP), Wataru Endo (Sint-Truiden/BEL), Junya Ito (Kashiwa Reysol/JPN),
Shoya Nakajima (Portimonense/POR), Takumi Minamino (Salzburg/AUT), Hidemasa
Morita (Kawasaki Frontale/JPN), Ritsu Doan (FC Groningen/NED), Yuya Osako
(Werder Bremen/GER), Takuma Asano (Hannover96/GER), Koya Kitagawa (Shimizu S-
Pulse/JPN).
BSS/AFP/RY/1555 hrs