Okada Names Squad to Face Netherlands/Ghana

Japan coach, Takeshi Okada, has named the Blue Samurai squad that will face the Netherlands on Sept. 5 and Ghana on Sept. 9. The team looks like this:

Keepers:

Ryota Tsuzuki (Urawa Reds)

Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale)

Defenders:

Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos)

Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Urawa Reds)

Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata)

Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds)

Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers)

Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo)

Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo)

Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers)

Midfielders:

Shunsuke Nakamura (Espanyol)

Hideo Hashimoto (Gamba Osaka)

Junichi Inamoto (Rennes)

Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka)

Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale)

Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg)

Keisuke Honda (VVV Venlo)

Forwards:

Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus)

Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe)

Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse)

Shinzo Koroki (Kashima Antlers)

Takayuki Morimoto (Catania)

While the team remains similar to the squad he used during the World Cup Qualifiers, there are several key inclusions and extractions than what we have seen before. The most impactful change will come at the keeper position, where Ryota Tsuzuki (above) will fill in for an injured Seigo Narazaki. Narazaki has taken over the role as first-team keeper since the departure of long-time presence, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. It would seem appropriate that Okada would reinstate Narazaki after his broken finger heals, and would use Narazaki as the primary keeper for the World Cup team. That being said, the upcoming matches against the Netherlands and Ghana are perhaps the toughest that Japan have faced in years, and could be the proving grounds for a younger Tsuzuki. Tsuzuki, while having far less international experience than Narazaki, is not entirely inept at his position, and has easily held the starting role for his club team, Urawa Reds, one of the best teams in the J. League. However, the pressure of facing J. League strikers in front of a mainly domestic audience and fighting off bullets from Dirk Kuyt and Robin Van Persie for the whole world to see are two different animals. Regardless, Tsuzuki’s keeper play, whether good or bad, will provide sound insight into the depth at the position. Who knows, a brilliant performance may even unseat Narazaki for the starting role.

The new inclusions in the squad are Serie A striker Takayuki Morimoto and France-based Junichi Inamoto (right). The call-up of Morimoto has been highly anticipated (see Player Profile: Takayuki Morimoto) and is unquestionably the most exciting new face Japan have seen in a long time. I can only hope that Morimoto shows the same class for Japan that Catania has come to expect from him. Inamoto, on the other hand, is no stranger to the national squad, but inconsistent club play has kept him out of the Blue Samurai in recent campaigns; good performance here could win him back into Okada’s good graces. Once touted as one of Japan’s most promising players, Inamoto made the move to Europe and joined Premier League side Arsenal in 2001. Failing to find a regular place on the first team, he then began a long career of bouncing around Europe, impressing in some areas, disappointing in others. His resume includes: Gamba Osaka, Arsenal, Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Galatasaray, Eintracht Frankfurt, and now finally in Rennes. Inamoto will be a wild-card in these next few games, and will most likely start on the bench as he is unproven compared to the other Japanese midfielders.

Other notable exclusions from the team are midfielders Daisuke Matsui of Grenoble and Shinji Ono of Vfl Bochum.

If I were coaching Japan, using the team that Okada has announced, I would play a 4-4-2 formation that would look like:

- - - - - - Morimoto- - - - Okazaki- - - - - - - - -

- Nakamura- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Honda-

- - - - - - - Endo- - - - - Hasebe - - - - - - - -

Nagatomo - - Nakazawa - - Tulio- - - -Uchida

- - - - - - - - - - - - Tsuzuki - - - - - - - - - - - -

Okada will undoubtedly start: Tsuzuki, Nakazawa, Tulio, Endo, Hasebe (if he is healthy and match fit), Nakamura, and Okazaki

Komano and Konno are reliable defensive backups, but in recent showings Uchida and Nagatomo have displayed great pace and attacking mentality. While they are young, they have shown confidence in big matches. Giving them the opportunity to succeed now may set the groundwork for years of great play at sideback. Morimoto, while I think Okada will start Tamada or Okubo, is the best striker Japan has and should start (Again, see Player Profile: Takayuki Morimoto).

Starting Keisuke Honda (above) should be a no-brainer for Okada. Honda has been brilliant for his club side and has begun the season with 5 goals in 4 matches. Also, Honda’s familiarity with the Dutch (from playing in Eredivisie) can only prove as a tactful advantage. The only way I could see Okada displace Honda on the starting side is if he were to play Hashimoto alongside Hasebe and move Endo up with Nakamura:

- Nakamura- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Endo-

- - - - - - - Hashimoto- - - - - Hasebe - - - - - - - -

This formation, while still formidable, presents a more defensive look to the side than with the inclusion of Keisuke Honda.

Ultimately, it is up to Takeshi Okada to determine Japan’s tactics, but if you happen to read my blog, Okada-san, I hope you take my opinions into consideration. I am really excited to see how we fair against World Class talent. I’ll be posting a blog soon on a pre-game analysis between the Dutch side and Blue Samurai. From the looks of it, the Dutch have announced a side with all of their regulars intact. It should be a good one.

Player Profile: Takayuki Morimoto

The "Japanese Ronaldo," or "Sushi Bomber 2.0;" call him what you will, but I prefer to think of him as "The Future." He's Takayuki Morimoto, the 21 year old center forward for Calcio Catania. Fans of the J. League will know Morimoto well. He made his professional debut with Tokyo Verdy when he was only 15. He was awarded the Rookie of the Year Award, and made his claim to fame as the youngest ever to score in the J. League. His J. League stint was cut short when in 2006 he was sent on loan to Catania, and became one of the rare Japanese to reach for European success. He is currently the only Japanese player in Serie A.

Success seemed to find him early, when in January of 2007, he was given his first cap when he came on as a substitue in the 83rd minute. 5 minutes later, he equalized and won the hearts of the Catania faithful. His impact was cut short, however, when in March of the same year he tore his ACL and was unable to play for the remainder of the season. After signing a permanent deal with the Serie A side, he returned from injury but struggled to regain his form, and suffered a mediocre 2007-2008 season. The next year, healthy once again, was viewed by many as his true full season debut, and Morimoto showcased his potential to the world.

As of now, Morimoto has logged 10 goals in 43 regular season caps. Not great stats for a center forward, but consider that he scored 7 goals in 23 matches last season and has began this year 1 for 1 suggests significant improvement and signs that he is growing into the high upside predicted early on in his career. Counting the last 3 matches of last season and the one he recently played thats 4 goals in 4 matches.

Morimoto attracted a lot of attention from big name European clubs over the off-season. Earlier he was loosely linked to Tottenham Hotspurs, but even more news worthy is that scouts from Manchester United are watching his every move. While I do not anticipate a transfer this season, I would be very surprised if Morimoto does not end up on a Champions League club for 2009-2010.

What makes Morimoto such an intriguing player is not just his age and upside. Morimoto is exciting because with relatively little experience on the big stage, he is making an impact as a striker in a league notoriously known for a defensive style of football against some of the world's best defenders and keepers. He has a large frame, is good in the air, and has a great blend of pace and skill. He has shown traces of that unteachable ability to position himself in the right place at the right time to win those "clean up" goals. Besides that, he has a gargantuan intimidating bald conehead.

Recent reports out of Japan suggest that Okada has finally submitted to giving Morimoto a chance to play for the national team, and Morimoto will most likely feature in the Sept. 5 friendly against the Netherlands. Thank the Shinto God of Football. Japan needs his help, and the sooner he can get playing, the more time he will have to develop chemistry and gel with the team that will represent Japan in South Africa.

Okada has been reluctant to call up Morimoto to play for Japan without much explanation. It could be that Okada doubted Morimoto for his lack of experience. I suppose I can't blame the man, he has such a baby face I'd be surprised if Morimoto is actually a teenage Chinese girl gymnast. There are also some who claim that Okada has a nationalistic tendency to favor domestic players as opposed to those abroad. Can't say I blame him much for this either. Who doesn't love Japan?

No, but seriously. Takayuki Morimoto is the real deal. Alexandre Pato of AC Milan has likened him to Ronaldo "The Phenom." That is high praise from a player who would know. If I were a member of the Blue Samurai I would have been lobbying to call him up years ago. And maybe I am wrong. Morimoto could end up being a bust just like many promising Japanese stars that have attempted to make it overseas. Fortunately, there is still time to find out. I for one, am ecstatic to see him play against the Netherlands. Who knows? If Morimoto shows his class and becomes a first-team regular, this could be the beginning of a very promising Japanese "future."

The State of the Blue Samurai

As of today, there are 294 days until World Cup 2010 begins in South Africa. 6 teams have already qualified; Japan among the four Asian teams to have booked a place. With the Asian qualification round concluded, Japan awaits the results of the other world regions, and the draw that will determine the other 3 opponents in the Group Stage of the most exciting football tournament in the world.

Japan, currently ranked 39th in the world, have never advanced beyond the round of 16 in the World Cup. However, their current coach, Takeshi Okada (left), has very vocally declared that only a semi-final place would spare disappointment. The Japanese media have berated Okada as being over-optimistic and with good reason. A top four finish indicates that Japan would have to beat out a field of perennial power houses including: Brazil, Spain, England, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, France, and Argentina. While the prospects of a semi-final birth seem unlikely, there are still reasons for fans of the Blue Samurai to remain upbeat.

Okada previously coached the Japanese National Team for the 1998 World Cup, that at the time, was thought to be the best Japanese side to date. Anchored by world class talent in Hidetoshi Nakata, the Blue Samurai went into the tournament sporting a World Ranking of 9; the highest world ranking Japan has ever claimed. Following a dismal WC performance of 3 losses in the group stage, team Japan plummeted in rankings, Okada was fired, and the Nihon Daihyo have yet to regain their place among the top teams in the world.

This time around, Okada has much to prove, and was only awarded a rare second chance when former coach, Ivica Osim, suffered a stroke that left him unable to continue coaching and in need of a replacement. Okada's second term has been a seesaw of results that include a highly criticized semi-final knockout in the 2007 Asian Cup, and with several successes such as two 4-0 thrashings against Chile and Belgium. With redemption in mind for himself and for the team, Okada took the first step by successfully navigating the qualifying round.

Okada's 2010 redeem team has at times dazzled, at others sputtered, but with less than 300 days remaining, a little fine tuning has the potential to create something magical.

With legend Nakata now far removed, former Celtic (now for Espanoyol) superstar Shunsuke Nakamura (right) has assumed the mantle as the clear playmaker of the team. Nakamura's creativity, vision, and ability to read the game faster than most, make him the one irreplaceable player on team Japan. Nakamura's dead ball proficiency is absolute class, and there is much evidence to suggest that he is one of the best set piece takers on the planet. One swing of his left foot can be the difference in any match. Notables alongside Nakamura in midfield are well-rounded Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), and Vfl Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe. Emerging starlet Keisuke Honda, currently for VVV-Venlo, is also sure to play a large role in 2010.

On defense, the "twin towers," captain Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F. Marinos) and Brazilian born Tulio Tanaka (Urawa Red Diamonds), provide sound security at the center back position. Okada has experimented with several side backs, but young guns Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers) and Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo) have impressed the most, and have displayed their ability to partake in attack with pace. Nakazawa and Tulio are also no strangers of the enemy box and provide much needed post-play height and are favorite targets on the ends of Nakamura's set pieces.

The tactical strength of Japan has always been its crafty and technically gifted midfield. The 2010 team is no exception and with a strong back four, the midfield and defense can compete with any team on any given day. Japan's achilles heal through its entire international career has been an inability to develop a consistent threat at the striker position. Once the only hope in front of goal, Naohiro Takahara has passed his prime and has not capped a match for Japan in over two years. There is not much evidence to believe that he will be a part of Okada's World Cup squad and the team coach has desperately searched for different attacking options. Of the recent call ups, 23 year old Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse) has shown the most promise with 7 goals in 13 caps. It is the belief of a few in the Japanese football world that the answer to Japan's attack lies in the reeds. Takayuki Morimoto, a center forward for Calcio Catania has been dubbed "Japanese Ronaldo" for his "movements and bald head" by Alexandre Pato who also awarded him the "best young player in Serie A." At just 21 years old, the untested Morimoto has not won a single appearance for the senior squad, but hope remains that he may emerge in coming months as the attacking edge for the Blue Samurai.

In preparation for the World Cup, Japan have scheduled several friendlies against good teams. The Netherlands, Ghana, and Scotland are three nations they will face in 2009. This blog will keep constant updates on Japanese Internationals, provide pre and post game analysis, player profiles, and serve as a forum for fans of team Japan in the build up to the World Cup. Please leave comments and check back often. I hope you enjoy this blog as much as i enjoy Japanese football.