Nakamura spearheads Japan's Asian Cup squad

Japan coach Ivica Osim announced his final squad for the defence of the Asian Cup led by the 2004 most valuable player Shunsuke Nakamura, seen here on 05 June 2007, the Japan Football Association said.

Japan coach Ivica Osim announced his final squad for the defence of the Asian Cup led by the 2004 most valuable player Shunsuke Nakamura, the Japan Football Association said.

The Celtic midfielder and Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara, who scored five goals in the 2000 championship, are the only Europe-based players.

The squad includes three players who took part in both the previous Asian Cup victories -- Nakamura, Jubilo Iwata goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi and Yokohama Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa.

"I'm going to do my best in the training camp starting tomorrow, looking forward to winning a third straight Asian Cup victory," said Nakazawa, who scored one goal earlier in the day in the J-League match.

Gamba Osaka defender Ryo Kaji and his teammate Yasuhito Endo also enjoyed the 2004 victory, while Nagoya Grampus Eight goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki played in the 1996 Asian Cup.

Osim, who guided the former Yugoslavia to the 1990 World Cup quarter-finals, and his 23 players will leave here on July 4 for Hanoi.

Japan will play 2006 Asian Games gold medallists Qatar on July 9, the United Arab Emirates on July 13 and minnows Vietnam on July 16 in the Asian Cup co-hosted by Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand.

Goalkeepers: Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata), Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Eiji Kawashima (Kawasaki Frontale)

Defenders: Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama Marinos), Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Red Diamonds), Akira Kaji (Gamba Osaka), Yuichi Komano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)

Midfielders: Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic/SCO), Hideo Hashimoto (Gamba Osaka), Naotake Hanyu (JEF United Chiba), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Keita Suzuki (Urawa Reds), Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Satoru Yamagishi (JEF United Chiba), Yoshiaki Ota (Jubilo Iwata), Koki Mizuno (JEF United Chiba)

Forwards: Naohiro Takahara (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Ryuji Bando (Gamba Osaka), Seiichiro Maki (JEF United Chiba), Hisato Sato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata)