TOKYO — Injured Premier League winger Kaoru Mitoma was omitted of Japan’s World Cup squad on Friday when coach Hajime Moriyasu named his 26 gamers for the event beginning subsequent month in North America.
Captain and Liverpool defensive midfielder Wataru Endo and veteran fullback Yuto Nagatomo had been included.
The 28-year-old Mitoma suffered a hamstring harm throughout Brighton’s 3-0 win over Wolves within the Premier League final weekend.
“The medical crew assessed that it could be tough for him to get again to health throughout the event,” Moriyasu mentioned.
Monaco ahead Takumi Minamino additionally missed out after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December.
In 2022 in Qatar, Japan received its group after upset victories over Germany and Spain earlier than shedding within the spherical of 16 on penalties to eventual semifinalists Croatia.
Japan is on a five-match successful streak heading into its remaining pre-World Cup pleasant towards Iceland in Tokyo on Might 31.
The streak began final October with a 3-2 win over Brazil in Tokyo when the house aspect got here again from 2-0 all the way down to beat the South People for the primary time.
It was additionally the final time Japan conceded a aim. Japan additionally beat England 1-0 on March 31 at Wembley after defeating Scotland 1-0 at Glasgow three days earlier.
Japan certified for its first World Cup at France in 1998 and co-hosted the occasion with South Korea in 2002. This 12 months marks Japan’s eighth World Cup event in a row.
Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki, Keisuke Osako, Tomoki Hayakawa.
Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Ito, Ayumu Seko, Yukinari Sugawara, Junnosuke Suzuki.
Midfielders/forwards: Wataru Endo, Junya Ito, Daichi Kamada, Koki Ogawa, Daizen Maeda, Ritsu Doan, Ayase Ueda, Ao Tanaka, Keito Nakamura, Kaishu Sano, Takefusa Kubo, Yuito Suzuki, Kento Shiogai, Keisuke Goto.