Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu has called in a young squad for the Samurai Blue's New Year’s Day friendly against Thailand, with 15 of the 24 players in the team 25 years old or younger.
Moriyasu is giving the next generation a chance to make their mark, with nine of the players in Moriyasu’s squad currently playing at J.League clubs, including four who are hoping to earn their first caps.
Haruya Fujii had a great season in the Nagoya Grampus defense and may get to pull on the Japan shirt for the first time. Sota Miura helped Ventforet Kofu into the AFC Champions League knockout stages this year and now he’s getting his first opportunity with the Samurai Blue, where he could join Fujii on the back line.
Sanfrecce Hiroshima’s star midfielder Takumu Kawamura is joining up with Moriyasu’s team for the first time as well, while F.C.Tokyo’s Taishi Brandon Nozawa will hope to get his first look in goal.
The young Kashima Antlers standout Kaishu Sano just got his first cap in November and he’s back for more, while Kashiwa Reysol's Mao Hosoya will hope to continue his rapid rise as one of the country’s most promising young players after scoring his first Samurai Blue goal last month.
Because the friendly does not fall during a FIFA international window, Moriyasu can only choose from players whose clubs are on break. That has precluded him from calling in some of Japan’s biggest stars, though some European-based players are available.
Takumi Minamino will join from Monaco and hopefully add to his 17 goals for the national team. Ayase Ueda and Takuma Asano are also in the squad, helping round out the forward line.
2024 will be a big year for Japan, with the AFC Asian Cup kicking off in January and the continuation of 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying stacking up massive matches for Moriyasu and Co. All of that begins on New Year’s Day, with a visit from Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo’s Supachok Sarachat, Urawa Reds’ Ekanit Panya and the rest of the Thailand team.
