Japan's No. 1 soccer player in Asia is amazing. It's a different player from Korea. They're from Europe. They're from Europe

Aug 27, 2025

Japan's No. 1 soccer player in Asia is amazing. It's a different player from Korea. They're from Europe. They're from Europe
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Certainly, there is no Asian country that can catch up with Japan in the player pool itself.

Japan, led by head coach Hajime Moriyasu, will go on an expedition to the U.S. to prepare for the 2026 North American World Cup, just like South Korea in the upcoming A-match in September. This is to face the U.S. and Mexico.

Unfortunately for Japan, many of the national team's major players were left ahead of the A-match in September. In particular, a large number of injuries occurred in center backs and central midfielders. In general Asian countries, if three players are injured at the same time in a specific position, it is very difficult to replace the main forces with European players.
Japan's No. 1 soccer player in Asia is amazing. It's a different player from Korea. They're from Europe. They're from Europe
Sportschosun DB
Taking Korea as an example, if Kim Min-jae, who plays for Bayern Munich, and Lee Han-beom, a member of Mitwillan, leave at the same time, it is impossible to fill the position with other European players. In the case of second-line resources, they can be replaced by European teams, but European teams are limited to positions such as defenders and central midfielders.




But Japan is different. Japanese media Soccer Digest predicted the expected list of A matches in September on the 27th, and Japan's European players were really solid. Soccer Digest is in an emergency situation as Takehiro Tomiyasu (independent), Hiroki Ito (Bayern), Kota Takai (Tottenham), and Koki Machida (Hofenheim) are suffering from string injuries. Shogo Taniguchi (Sint Trawidon), who returned from a major injury, is still difficult to digest full-time, and Ko Itakura (Ajax) can also be excluded depending on his calf condition. He said as many as six of the national team's center-back resources could be difficult to call up due to injuries.

Japan can fill it with a European center back despite a severe power leak. Other candidates include Daiki Hashioka (Slav Prague), Hiroki Sekine (Stad Reims), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord), and Ayumu Seko (Le Havre). Amid the lack of resources on the left, there is a possibility that Yuta Nakayama (Machida Zelvia), who can also play as a defensive midfielder, will be selected as an alternative resource for center backs. Except for Nakayama, all of them are European.
Japan's No. 1 soccer player in Asia is amazing. It's a different player from Korea. They're from Europe. They're from Europe
Japan's core midfield players Tanaka Ao (Liz United) and Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisbon) are also down. In Korea, Hwang In-beom and Lee Jae-sung are missing, but in Japan, European teams are waiting. Soccer Digest is expected to include 'Endo Wataru (Liverpool), Sano Kaishu (Mainz), Fujita Joel Chima (Jankt Pauli), and multi-resource Hatate Leo (Celtic). If Daichi (Crystal Palace) joins the team depending on the injury recovery situation, he can be used in this position.

Japan really has a lot of players playing in Europe, not only in center backs and central midfielders, but also in second-line resources. Even if one or two people are out of power, they can find a replacement. There are no superstars of Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae class, but the reason why Japan is the strongest in Asia is in such a solid power base.






This article was translated by Naver AI translator.