Almost half of Japan’s Women’s World Cup squad from overseas however Iwabuchi misses out

TOKYO (AP) – Almost half of the gamers Japan summoned for its 23-player Women’s World Cup on Tuesday are displaying their expertise in leagues overseas.

Players had been chosen from leagues exterior Japan primarily in England, Sweden, Italy, and the United States in hope of rebounding after being knocked out within the spherical of 16 in 2019. The Japanese had been runners-up in 2015 and gained the title in 2011.

“We will fight for the top spot with great ambition,” Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda mentioned in Japanese. “But the level of (women’s) football in the world is improving very rapidly.”

Yui Hasegawa of Manchester City most likely heads the listing from abroad. Another achieved midfielder is Fuka Nagano of Liverpool.

The youngest participant is 19-year-old Maika Hamano, who performs on mortgage from Chelsea with Swedish membership Hammarby.

The greatest identified of the gamers primarily based within the United States is ahead Jun Endo at Angel City.

The main absence is Mana Iwabuchi, who performed in three straight World Cups. She has been at Tottenham on mortgage from north London rival Arsenal.

Ikeda didn’t get into specifics about Iwabuchi’s absence however mentioned he appreciated her “passion” for the crew.

“I have chosen (players) not for any one reason, but for their performance in the national team, their condition, their situation in the team and their performance in various competitions,” Ikeda mentioned.

Japan performs its three Group C video games in New Zealand, opening with Zambia in Hamilton on July 22. It faces Costa Rica on July 26 in Dunedin and closes group play in opposition to Spain on July 31 in Wellington.

The Women’s World Cup is being co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand.

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Japan

Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Chika Hirao (Albirex Niigata), Momoko Tanaka (Tokyo Verdy Beleza)

Defenders: Saki Kumagai (Roma), Risa Shimizu (West Ham), Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Reds), Moeka Minami (Roma), Shiori Miyake (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Kiko Seike (Urawa Reds), Miyabi Moriya (INAC Kobe Leonessa)

Midfielders: Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Jun Endo (Angel City), Fuka Nagano (Liverpool), Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai), Hikaru Naomoto (Urawa Reds), Hina Sugita (Portland Thorns), Honoka Hayashi (West Ham), Aoba Fujino (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Hana Takahashi (Urawa Reds)

Forwards: Maika Hamano (Hammarby), Riko Ueki (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Mina Tanaka (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Remina Chiba (JEF United)

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