Japan announces 23-man squad for FIFA World Cup

Japan's national football coach Alberto Zaccheroni Monday announced a 23-member squad for the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil.

The squad includes stars like Manchester United's Shinji Kagawa, AC Milan's Keisuke Honda, Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo and in-form Mainz striker Shinji Okazaki, reports Xinhua.

However, it was surprise that Yoshito Okubo, a veteran striker, also made the cut.

Since Zaccheroni took charge of the Japanese team in 2010, the 31-year-old player has only been called up once by the Italian coach.

The Asian champions will play their final warm-up in Japan against Cyprus in Saitama May 27 before heading to the United States for a training camp. They are scheduled to arrive in Brazil June 7.

 

The squad:

Goalkeepeers: Eiji Kawashima, Shusaku Nishikawa, Shuichi Gonda

Defenders: Masahiko Inoha, Yasuyuki Konno, Yuto Nagatomo, Masato Morishige, Atsuto Uchida, Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Sakai, Gotoku Sakai

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo, Makoto Hasebe, Toshihiro Aoyama, Hotaru Yamaguchi

Forwards: Keisuke Honda, Yoshito Okubo, Shinji Okazaki, Shinji Kagawa, Hiroshi Kiyotake, Yoichiro Kakitani, Manabu Saito, Yuya Osako.