NEWS

A 23-member Japan squad was named on Monday to play in the AFC Under-19 Championship in Saudi Arabia from October 31 to November 14. The Championship will serve as a qualifier for next year’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

The squad features Cerezo Osaka midfielder Shinji Kagawa, who has played for the Japan senior team, and Tokyo Verdy midfielder Hiroki Kawano.
But Oita Trinita midfielder Mu Kanasaki was not included due to his club’s participation in the J. League Nabisco Cup final on November 1.
“I’ve chosen the best available 23 players,” said Japan Under-19 coach Tatsuya Makiuchi.
  “It will be a tough tournament, but we’d like to qualify for next year’s Under-20 World Cup and play hard in each game to win the tournament and bring back the first Asian title for this generation. I hope we can bring Japanese football some good news,” Makiuchi said.
Japan, who were runners-up in the previous edition in 2006, will play Yemen on October 31, Iran on November 2 and hosts Saudi Arabia on November 4 in Group A. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the quarterfinals.
The semifinalists will earn a place in next year’s Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, which is scheduled for October and November.

Squad:
Goalkeepers—Takuya Matsumoto (Juntendo University), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo), Koki Otani (Urawa Reds)
Defenders—Jun Sonoda (Kawasaki Frontale), Shoma Kamata (Shonan Bellmare), Kazunari Ohno (Albirex Niigata), Taisuke Muramatsu (Honda FC), Takashi Kanai (Yokohama F. Marinos), Shunki Takahashi (Urawa Reds Youth), Tomotaka Okamoto (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Midfielders—Shinji Kagawa (Cerezo Osaka), Kohei Shimoda (FC Tokyo), Jun Suzuki (Avispa Fukuoka), Fumiya Kogure (Albirex Niigata), Takuya Aoki (Omiya Ardija), Kosuke Yamamoto (Jubilo Iwata), Kota Mizunuma (Yokohama F. Marinos), Hiroki Kawano (Tokyo Verdy), Genki Haraguchi (Urawa Reds Youth)
Forwards—Kensuke Nagai (Fukuoka University), Keisuke Endo (Mito Hollyhock), Hiroki Miyazawa (Consadole Sapporo), Yoichiro Kakitani (Cerezo Osaka)
Coach—Tatsuya Makiuchi