The Japan national team for the World Cup, which currently has no J-League players, is becoming a reality.
The Japanese sports newspaper 'Sportiva' published a feature on the North America World Cup on the 12th, predicting the Japanese national team roster. The result is shocking. The possibility that not a single J-League player may be selected has been mentioned.
The media reported, "Until 20 years ago, domestic players were the majority in the World Cup national team. In 2006, European players made up 6 out of 23. In the 2014 Brazil World Cup, European players were 12, almost half. For the 2026 World Cup, for the first time in history, all players may be selected from Europe."
The biggest development is the overseas advancement of center backs and goalkeepers. Due to physical disadvantages, the entry of Japanese defenders into Europe was considered almost impossible. However, players like Maya Yoshida, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Hiroki Ito are emerging. Recently, Kota Takai joined Tottenham.
The media praised, "Until now, Japanese defenders have faced difficulties in Europe due to size and physique. Now they have adapted to the battles in Europe and have grown well. Kota Takai is a player who will carry on the legacy."
In fact, the Japan national team defeated Korea 1-0 to win the East Asian Cup. Korea still holds the record for the most wins with 5, but has fallen to Japan in two consecutive tournaments. Specifically, in the recent Japan-Korea match, Korea lost for the first time in history in three consecutive games, clearly trailing behind Japan.
With more than 50 players playing in Europe, Japan's top J-League talents have emerged, but there are almost no players who can make it to the World Cup finals. This is because the competition is tougher than in Korea, given the number of skilled players.
Even Soma Yuki, who contributed three assists to win in the East Asian Cup, shocked by stating, "The East Asian Cup and the World Cup are completely different tournaments. To be honest, I am not optimistic about my participation in the World Cup."
[OSEN]