Coach Zico announces 23-man squad for the World Cup

Japan coach Zico has announced his 23-man squad for the World Cup in Germany next month and has gone for experience with just one suprise by including striker Seiichiro Maki who I blogged about yesterday.

The Brazilian has gone with Maki instead of Yokohama’s Tatsuhiko Kubo in a bid to solve Japan’s recent goal drought. Apparently, the 25-year-old Maki’s selection drew gasps at a packed news conference when Zico read his name out last in announcing the 23-man squad. But to be honest I am not suprised. Maki has been the only impressive striker lately Maki and has made an impact and given Japan a lift in the run-up to the World Cup.

Zico also kept faith with former Sampdoria striker Atsushi Yanagisawa, who is still recovering from a broken metatarsal, and German-based forward Naohiro Takahara.

Celtic’s Shunsuke Nakamura and Hidetoshi Nakata of Bolton Wanderers are among an experienced group of midfielders for the FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Eleven of the 23 were among the Japan squad who reached the last 16 under Frenchman Troussier as co-hosts four years ago.

Japan squad
Goalkeepers – Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata), Yoichi Doi (FC Tokyo), Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight)

Defenders – Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Gamba Osaka), Alex (Urawa Reds), Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F-Marinos), Makoto Tanaka (Jubilo Iwata), Akira Kaji (Gamba Osaka), Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Reds), Yuichi Komano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Koji Nakata (FC Basel)

Midfielders – Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers), Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic), Shinji Ono (Urawa Reds), Junichi Inamoto (West Bromwich Albion), Takashi Fukunishi (Jubilo Iwata), Mitsuo Ogasawara (Kashima Antlers), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka)

Forwards – Atsushi Yanagisawa (Kashima Antlers), Naohiro Takahara (Hamburg), Masashi Oguro (Grenoble), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus Eight) Seiichiro Maki (JEF United Chiba)