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Okada adds Kawaguchi for World Cup ‘swan song’

The only real surprise was a recall for veteran goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi, who has recovered from a serious leg injury in time to make his fourth World Cup squad.

“Kawaguchi brings experience as an ex-captain and his presence and leadership will be a boost,” said Okada, who drew gasps when he read out the keeper’s name.

“The character he has shown to come back from a bad injury underlines his strength and resolve, and that is sure to rub off on the younger players.”

Okada rejected the latest opportunity to back away from his target of a semi-final place in South Africa and said that he was unlikely to carry on as coach after the tournament.

“I’m not changing my objectives,” insisted the 53-year-old, who has faced ridicule for not retracting his bold public target following some abject recent performances.

“I believe these 23 players can achieve those goals. This is a squad selected with that in mind.

“There probably will not be a job for me after the World Cup but right now, all I am focused on is the tournament.”

There were no major bombshells from Okada despite concerns over playmaker Shunsuke Nakamura, who has been out of sorts since rejoining Yokohama F-Marinos from Spain’s Espanyol.

Japan play Cameroon, the Netherlands and Denmark in Group E at the World Cup, which begins on June 11.

European-based midfielders Keisuke Honda, Makoto Hasebe and Daisuke Matsui carry much of the burden for the Blue Samurai, who have never won a World Cup game on foreign soil.

“Honda is a big weapon for us,” said Okada, who was Japan coach when the country made their first World Cup appearance — and lost all three games — in 1998.

“He scores goals and creates lots of scoring chances for us. He’s become a very important player. But it is Japan’s work rate and organisation that symbolises my team.”

Many observers believe otherwise, however, and Okada was forced to make a public apology following Japan’s embarrassing 3-0 home defeat by a second-string Serbia in a warm-up game last month.

“Our first job is to beat Cameroon,” said a defiant Okada. “We know Holland are one of the world’s best sides but we believe we can take points off them too.”

Japan squad

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

Defenders - Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F-Marinos), Tulio (Nagoya Grampus), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Daiki Iwamasa (Kashima Antlers), Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Atsuto Uchida (Kashima Antlers)

Midfielders - Shunsuke Nakamura (Yokohama F-Marinos), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Junichi Inamoto (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Urawa Reds), Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow), Daisuke Matsui (Grenoble)

Forwards - Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus), Yoshito Okubo (Vissel Kobe), Takayuki Morimoto (Catania), Kisho Yano (Albirex Niigata)