Liverpool, Arsenal, Brighton lose key players as Japan Asian Cup squad is confirmed

Shortly after a routine 5-0 rout of Thailand on 1 January as part of the preparation for the 2023 Asian Cup, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu named his squad that will head to Qatar ahead of the tournament that gets underway on 12 January.

Brighton & Hove Albion winger Kaoru Mitoma was one of the surprise inclusions in the Samurai Blue squad despite currently being sidelined with an ankle injury.

Moriyasu included the 26-year-old in a 26-man squad that also features Liverpool’s Wataru Endo, Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu and Takefusa Kubo of Real Sociedad for the competition, which kicks off in Doha on 12 January.

“I don’t know if (Mitoma) will be ready for the first match, but he is recovering well and I expect him to be available at an early stage,” Moriyasu told reporters.

Brighton manager Roberto De Zerbi had cast doubt on Mitoma’s availability for the 24-nation continental championship, which runs until 10 February, after he limped off during a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace before Christmas.

Samurai Blue aiming for AFC fifth title

Japan are aiming to win the Asian Cup for a record-extending fifth time having previously landed the title in 1992, 2000, 2004 and 2011.

Moriyasu led the Samurai Blue to the final in 2019, where his side lost to Qatar.

Celtic striker Kyogo Furuhashi was among those to miss out on selection alongside Lazio’s Daichi Kamada and Fortuna Dusseldorf midfielder Ao Tanaka.

The exclusion of Tanaka, who famously scored the winner for Japan against Spain at the 2022 World Cup, came as a surprise after the 25-year-old had been on target for Moriyasu’s side in a 5-0 friendly win over Thailand in Tokyo on Monday.

The Samurai Blue will kick off their Asian Cup challenge on 14 January against Vietnam, who are led by former Japan coach Philippe Troussier, before taking on Iraq and Indonesia in Group D.

Japan AFC Asian Cup squad