New boy Sato hoping to boost Japan strike force

Hisato Sato wants to follow in the footsteps of fellow Japanese striker Masashi Oguro after winning his first international call-up for Japan’s friendly with United States tomorrow.

Oguro scored 20 goals for J.League club Gamba Osaka in 2004 and was subsequently called up into the National team in February 2005 and went on to play a significant role in helping Japan book their place in the World Cup finals in June.

Similarly, Sato has made coach Zico sit up and take notice after scoring 18 goals for Sanfreece Hiroshima to finish as top Japanese scorer ahead of Oguro in J-League last season.

Zico had been worried of Japan’s lack of killer instinct in front of goal and has said that instilling a more ruthless streak into his strike force will be his main priority in the build up to the finals.

Sato, fit again Yokohama F Marinos forward Tatsuhiko Kubo and JEF United Chiba target man Seiichiro Maki have been picked in the absence of Japan’s European-based forwards and injured duo Keiji Tamada and Tatsuya Tanaka.

Sato thinks he has been called up because he has something extra to offer that the other strikers don’t.
As the battle for places upfront in the World Cup squad is set to intensify, Sato knows he will need to take a leaf out of Oguro’s book and make an immediate impact to stand any chance of getting a seat on the plane to Germany

The game against the United States will give him an opportunity to put forward his case.