Japan's Roster For Soccer World Cup In Qatar Announced

The team's goalkeepers are Kawashima Eiji of RC Strasbourg in the French top division, Gonda Shuichi of Shimizu S-Pulse in Japan's first division J-1, and Schmidt Daniel of Sint-Truiden in the Belgian first division.

Defenders include Nagatomo Yuto of F.C. Tokyo in J-1 and Yoshida Maya of FC Schalke 04 in the German top division. Nagatomo has been selected for a fourth straight World Cup, and Yoshida a third.

Other defenders are Sakai Hiroki of the Urawa Reds in J-1, Taniguchi Shogo and Yamane Miki of Kawasaki Frontale in J-1, Itakura Ko of Borussia Monchengladbach in the German top division, Nakayama Yuta of Huddersfield Town in England's second division, Tomiyasu Takehiro of Arsenal in England's Premier League, and Hiroki Ito of VfB Stuttgart in the German top division. Itakura has been away from the national team due to injuries.

Midfielders and forwards include Endo Wataru of VfB Stuttgart in the German top division and Ito Junya of Stade de Reims in the French top division. It will be Endo's second World Cup. Ito scored goals in four straight matches of the final Asian qualifiers.

Other midfielders and forwards are Shibasaki Gaku of CD Leganes in the Spanish second division, Asano Takuma of VfL Bochum 1848 in the German first division and Minamino Takumi of AS Monaco in the French top division. Asano has not been active on the national team due to injuries.

Also on the list are Morita Hidemasa of Sporting CP in the Portuguese top division, Kamada Daichi of Eintracht Frankfurt in the German top division, Soma Yuki of Nagoya Grampus in J-1, Mitoma Kaoru of Brighton & Hove Albion in England's Premier League, Maeda Daizen of Celtic FC in the top Scottish division, Doan Ritsu of SC Freiburg in the German top division, Ueda Ayase of Cercle Brugge KSV in the Belgian first division, Tanaka Ao of Fortuna Dusseldorf in the German second division, and Kubo Takefusa of Real Sociedad in the Spanish top division.