Only two of Japan’s 12 goals in the last round of qualifying were scored by center-forwards, and the two-time World Cup veteran Yuya Osako was shockingly left off the roster.
The enormous assortment of excellent offensive midfielders that Japan has, all of whom are capable of pulling a rabbit out of a hat when the situation calls for it, serve as the embodiment of the country’s offense.
A good omen for a squad that has always flourished when the collective has been put before any individual superstars are that Japan’s locker room will have lots of leaders but no egos, as we witnessed when the 2010 edition reached the round of 16, where they took Paraguay to penalties.
2022 FIFA World Cup: Who is the coach for Japan?
Hajime Moriyasu is the coach for Japan. After nearly eight years, some more turbulent than others, of foreign coaches leading the Samurai Blue, Hajime Moriyasu was an obvious choice for a Japan Football Association hoping to coordinate its preparations for the 2020 Tokyo Games and Qatar 2022.
The 54-year-old was selected to lead the nation’s Olympic men’s team after assisting Russia in 2018 and guiding Sanfrecce Hiroshima to three J League titles. Former Japan international Moriyasu helped his nation win the Asian Cup in 1992. He also witnessed the infamous “Agony of Doha” incident in 1993 while on the field.
