Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma was named in Japan’s Asian Cup squad on Monday regardless of an ankle damage, as coach Hajime Moriyasu seems to erase the “frustration” of their 2019 last defeat. Brighton coach Roberto De Zerbi mentioned final week that Mitoma can be out for as much as six weeks after hurting his ankle in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on December 21. But Moriyasu nonetheless included the participant in his 26-man squad for the Asian Cup in Qatar, which kicks off on January 12. “Given his current injury situation, I don’t know if he will be ready to play in the first game or not,” Moriyasu mentioned of the 26-year-old. “But I have been told by the national team medical staff and his club medical staff that I will be able to use him early in the tournament when he comes back from injury.”

Japan warmed up for the Asian Cup with a 5-0 pleasant win over Thailand in Tokyo in entrance of a New Year’s Day crowd of over 60,000.

They have received the Asian Cup a document 4 occasions however they misplaced 3-1 to Qatar within the last of the 2019 match within the United Arab Emirates.

Moriyasu mentioned his “fundamental approach hasn’t changed” over the previous 5 years however he’s decided to elevate the trophy this time.

“One thing that hasn’t changed from the last time is that we will take each game as it comes and prepare as best we can, as we always do,” he mentioned.

“The thing that has changed is that we have frustration from not winning the last time.”

Moriyasu named Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo and Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in his Asian Cup squad, together with Real Sociedad attacking midfielder Takefusa Kubo.

Celtic’s Daizen Maeda and Reo Hatate made the lower however club-mate Kyogo Furuhashi, who scored towards Rangers on Saturday, was not chosen.

Lazio’s Daichi Kamada was ignored, as was midfielder Ao Tanaka, who scored Japan’s opener towards Thailand.

Only 14 gamers have been retained from Japan’s squad for the 2022 World Cup, the place they beat Germany and Spain earlier than dropping on penalties to Croatia within the final 16.

“If you look at the overall level of Japanese football, there are more players playing at a high level,” mentioned Moriyasu.

“There is fierce competition for places and that means there is a high level of candidates for the national team.”

Moriyasu fielded an inexperienced line-up lacking a number of overseas-based gamers towards a Thailand facet that can be heading to the Asian Cup.

Tanaka broke the impasse 5 minutes into the second half earlier than targets from Keito Nakamura, Takumu Kawamura, Takumi Minamino and a Thailand personal aim gave the hosts a cushty win.

Moriyasu mentioned his gamers had been proactive in attacking the opposition however urged them to maintain enhancing.

“In order to win at the Asian Cup and to beat the very best teams in the world, we have to be dogged in defence and get better at winning the ball back from them,” he mentioned.

Japan have been drawn in Group D on the Asian Cup and can face Indonesia, Iraq and Vietnam within the first spherical.

Japan squad:

Goalkeepers:Daiya Maekawa (Vissel Kobe), Zion Suzuki (Sint-Truiden/BEL), Taishi Brandon Nozawa (FC Tokyo)

Defenders:Shogo Taniguchi (Al-Rayyan/QAT), Kou Itakura (Monchengladbach/GER), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Gent/BEL), Yuta Nakayama (Huddersfield/ENG), Koki Machida (Union SG/BEL), Seiya Maikuma (Cerezo Osaka), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal/ENG), Hiroki Ito (Stuttgart/GER), Yukinari Sugawara (AZ/NED)

Midfielders/forwards:Wataru Endo (Liverpool/ENG), Junya Ito (Reims/FRA), Takuma Asano (Bochum/GER), Takumi Minamino (Monaco/FRA), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting/POR), Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton/ENG), Daizen Maeda (Celtic/SCO), Reo Hatate (Celtic/SCO), Ritsu Doan (Freiburg/GER), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord/NED), Keito Nakamura (Reims/FRA), Kaishu Sano (Kashima Antlers), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad/ESP), Mao Hosoya (Kashiwa Reysol)

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