Japan forward Okubo handed recall

Japan forward Okubo handed recall - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni sprang a rare selection surprise by recalling Kawasaki Frontale forward Yoshito Okubo to his 23-man World Cup squad for Brazil on Monday after a two year absence. 

Yu Kobayashi #11 of Kawasaki Frontale in action during the AFC Champions League Round of 16 match between Kawasaki Frontale and FC Seoul at Todoroki Stadium on May 7, 2014 (Getty)

The 31-year-old has been in top form for his club scoring eight times this season after being the lead marksman in the J.League last term, but he had long been overlooked by Zaccheroni.

The stocky striker had featured only once during the Italian's four years in charge, a 45 minute outing in a 2012 friendly win over Iceland, despite playing all four matches at the last World Cup in South Africa under previous coach Takeshi Okada.

However, the former VfL Wolfsburg and Real Mallorca forward will have the chance of adding to his caps in Group C clashes against Ivory Coast, Colombia and Greece when the tournament begins on June 12.

Yohei Toyoda, who has scored seven times for Sagan Tosu this season, was the man to miss out despite being tipped by some Japanese media to start in Brazil.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama was another surprise inclusion in the Asian champions squad with Zaccheroni opting to ditch Hertha Berlin's Hajime Hosogai, who had been a regular under the Italian.

Captain Makoto Hasebe was named in the 23 after returning to action for FC Nuremberg on the weekend after a lengthy knee injury, as were defenders Atsuto Uchida and Maya Yoshida who were also fitness concerns.

The squad featured 12 overseas-based players including AC Milan playmaker Keisuke Honda, Inter Milan fullback Yuto Nagatomo and Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa.

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Squad.

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96), Gotoku Sakai (VfB Stuttgart)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), Makoto Hasebe (FC Nuremberg), Hiroshi Kiyotake (FC Nuremberg), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F. Marinos).

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Yuya Osako (TSV Munich 1860), Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale) // ( eurosport.com )

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Okubo handed World Cup recall by daring Japan

Okubo handed World Cup recall by daring Japan - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni sprang a rare selection surprise by recalling Kawasaki Frontale forward Yoshito Okubo to his attack-minded 23-man World Cup squad after a two-year absence on Monday.

The 31-year-old has been in top form since joining the club in 2013, scoring eight times this season after being the lead marksman in the J.League last term but Zaccheroni continually overlooked him during qualification for the Brazil finals.

The stocky striker had featured only once during the Italian's four years in charge, a 45 minute outing in a 2012 friendly win over Iceland, despite playing all four matches at the last World Cup in South Africa under previous coach Takeshi Okada.

"He's got experience, personality and a nose for the goal, and I know he was a fantastic player. What I had to do was get the other players up to speed," the Italian told reporters when asked why he had excluded the nimble forward previously.

"When you talk about Okubo, he's got experience and quality and while he maybe over 30, he hasn't shown signs of slowing down physically. He is also unpredictable. Opponents can't read him.

"When I first took the job, he was being slowed by injuries but his performance the last year and a half has been brilliant. I just want him to play to his strengths."

The former VfL Wolfsburg and Real Mallorca forward will vie with German-based Yuya Osako and Cerezo Osaka's Yoichiro Kakitani for the starting berth in Group C clashes against Ivory Coast, Colombia and Greece when the tournament begins on June 12.

AOYAMA SELECTED

Yohei Toyoda, who has scored seven times for Sagan Tosu this season, was the man to miss out, despite being tipped by some Japanese media to start in Brazil.

Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Toshihiro Aoyama was another surprise inclusion in the Asian champions squad with Zaccheroni opting to ditch Hertha Berlin's Hajime Hosogai, who had been a regular under the Italian.

Captain Makoto Hasebe was named in the 23 after returning to action for FC Nuremberg on the weekend after a lengthy knee injury, as were defenders Atsuto Uchida and Maya Yoshida who were also fitness concerns.

The relatively settled squad featured 12 overseas-based players including AC Milan playmaker Keisuke Honda, Inter Milan fullback Yuto Nagatomo and Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa.

Japan have targeted a first World Cup quarter-final appearance and former Juventus and AC Milan boss Zaccheroni was confident, providing his squad were fit enough, to pull of his high-tempo game plan in hot and humid Brazil.

"I've got a great team on my hands and I think we can achieve great things," he said.

"I knew of my 23 a long time ago, but I wanted to take every minute that was available to me to think things over.

"I was debating whether to take another defensive midfielder but if I did that, I'd have to drop a forward or a defender, which is something I really didn't want to do because I want to take as many attack-minded players as possible."

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Squad.

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan), Maya Yoshida (Southampton), Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover 96), Gotoku Sakai (VfB Stuttgart)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Keisuke Honda (AC Milan), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), Makoto Hasebe (FC Nuremberg), Hiroshi Kiyotake (FC Nuremberg), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka), Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F. Marinos).

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Yuya Osako (TSV Munich 1860), Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale) (Writing by Patrick Johnston; Editing by John O'Brien) // ( Reuters )

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'You're bound for Brazil' - Kagawa told on Tokyo flight

'You're bound for Brazil' - Kagawa told on Tokyo flight - Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa was told he had been selected for Japan's World Cup squad by a flight attendant after being caught in mid-air when Alberto Zaccheroni named his 23-man line-up for Brazil.

New Zealand's Tyler Boyd (L) fights for the ball against Japan's Shinji Kagawa during their international friendly soccer match at the national stadium in Tokyo March 5, 2014 (Reuters)

New Zealand's Tyler Boyd (L) fights for the ball against Japan's Shinji Kagawa during their international friendly soccer match at the national stadium in Tokyo March 5, 2014 (Reuters)

"It wasn't announced on the plane, a regular cabin attendant gave me the message," Kagawa was quoted as saying by Kyodo after landing in Tokyo on Monday.

"Quite simply I am relieved. But being a member of the team is not my goal. My aim is to deliver results."

Despite his concerns, the 25-year-old is a certain starter for Japan's campaign in Brazil even though he has been deemed surplus to requirements during the English Premier League season under former United boss David Moyes, who was sacked last month.

It marked an abrupt change in fortunes for the talented playmaker, who had two impressive years with German side Borussia Dortmund before being signed by former United boss Alex Ferguson in 2012.

"I have experienced a lot in Europe over these four years, especially this year. I had won the league the previous three years," he said.

"This year the manager changed and it has been a really hard year in many ways but I think it has been really good for me to experience both good times and bad times at the top level in Europe.

"There have been times when I thought my spirit would break and I just thought I have to believe in myself. In the end it has been a really disappointing season what with not scoring a single goal but I was never slacked off in training or matches."

Kagawa was one of a number of young players who travelled with the Japan squad at the last World Cup in South Africa for experience after missing out on the 23-man party.

Frustrated at being overlooked by former Japan coach Takeshi Okada, Kagawa completed the shock move from then second division side Cerezo Osaka to Dortmund where he helped sparked their Bundesliga revival.

Although he has failed to hit the same heights at Old Traforrd, Kagawa has continued to shine under Zaccheroni and he looked forward to taking on Ivory Coast, Colombia and Greece in their Group C campaign with relish.

"Over these past four years my goal has been Brazil and I think I am here now because I fought and believed in myself," he said.

"I can play on a World Cup stage that I have dreamed about since I was little. I am not only going to enjoy it, I want to attach my mind to getting results.

"For the team I think our first game against Ivory Coast is crucial. Obviously we are in it to win the tournament but that is not something you can say lightly and I want to focus on Ivory Coast." ( eurosport.com )

READ MORE - 'You're bound for Brazil' - Kagawa told on Tokyo flight

Honda, Kagawa headline Japan's World Cup squad

Honda, Kagawa headline Japan's World Cup squad

Honda, Kagawa headline Japan's World Cup squad - Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa headlined Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni's selections as he named his squad for the FIFA World Cup on Monday.

Zaccheroni, coach of Japan since August 2010, selected 12 players based in Europe and 11 in the J.League as the Italian prepares to lead Asia's top-ranked nation to Brazil.

Milan's Honda and Manchester United's Kagawa will be critical to Japan's hopes of progressing from Group C, in which it will face Ivory Coast, Greece and Colombia.

Japan traditionally struggles to produce top-line strikers and Zaccheroni will most likely rely on Honda and Kagawa to both create and score most of the team's goals at the World Cup.

Underlining Japan's struggles up front was the one surprise selection in Zaccheroni's squad, with Yoshito Okubo of Kawasaki Frontale named despite having only been picked once before during the Italian's tenure.

Okubo was the leading scorer in the 2013 J.League season, as he helped Kawasaki to a third-place finish.

With 54 caps and five international goals to his name, the 31-year-old Okubo will challenge the likes of Mainz striker Shinji Okazaki and 1860 Munich's Yuya Osako for a spot up front.

Japan will start its World Cup campaign against Ivory Coast on June 14 in Recife, before taking on Greece in Natal five days later and Colombia in Cuiaba on June 24.

Squad in full:

Goalkeepeers: Shuichi Gonda (Tokyo), Eiji Kawashima (Standard Liege), Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds)

Defenders: Masahiko Inoha (Jubilo Iwata), Yasuyuki Konno (Gamba Osaka), Masato Morishige (Tokyo), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter), Gotoku Sakai (Stuttgart), Hiroki Sakai (Hannover), Atsuto Uchida (Schalke), Maya Yoshida (Southampton)

Midfielders: Toshihiro Aoyama (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Nuremberg), Keisuke Honda (Milan), Shinji Kagawa (Manchester United), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Nuremberg), Manabu Saito (Yokohama F Marinos), Hotaru Yamaguchi (Cerezo Osaka)

Forwards: Shinji Okazaki (Mainz), Yoshito Okubo (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuya Osako (1860 Munich) // ( goal.com )

READ MORE - Honda, Kagawa headline Japan's World Cup squad