Japan : Full Of Surprises

Hajime Moriyasu, the head coach of the Samourai has made a selection of players for the World Cup. Hajime selected the players counting more in a largely established core of players but omitting several of Japan’s top standouts in European competitions as well as longtime Samurai Blue veterans. The list is full of surprises as Japanese fans were not expecting the choices of the coach. Moriyasu has called up a number of players with fewer than 10 senior caps, including Nagoya Grampus winger Yuki Soma, Celtic forward Daizen Maeda and Cercle Brugge forward Ayase Ueda. Bochum forward, Takuma Asano was also named in a squad that will be led by captain Maya Yoshida and features Arsenal d...