Four Hurdles Hindering Kubo Takefusa’s Inclusion in the Japanese National Soccer Team for the Paris Olympics
International Match Day (IMD) is prioritized by each country’s football association, and clubs are obligated to send players. The days when the Asian Cup was held in January and February were treated as IMD, allowing Japan to field key players such as International Match Day (IMD) is prioritized by each country’s football association, and clubs are obligated to send players. The days when the Asian Cup was held in January and February were treated as IMD, allowing Japan to field key players such as International Match Day (IMD) is prioritized by each country’s football association, and clubs are obligated to send players. The days when the Asian Cup was held in January and February were treated as IMD, allowing Japan to field key players such as Wataru Endo (31, Liverpool) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (25, Arsenal).
However, this is not the case for the Olympic qualifiers. Currently, Europe is in the final stages of the season, with crucial games for every club. It’s impossible to afford the absence of valuable players. Despite the Japan Football Association (JFA) repeatedly requesting cooperation from clubs, and even coach Oiwa traveling to Europe to make requests, only a few players from Sint-Truiden, owned by Japanese company “DMM.com”, such as Rihito Yamamoto (22) and Chima Fujita (22), were called up. However, even Sint-Truiden declined to release Suzuki, stating, “We sent him to the Asian Cup, so he can’t participate this time.” This inability to assemble the best squad for the Paris Olympics weighs heavily on the coach’s mind.
In the past, the selection of European players for the final qualifiers has been a challenge, as seen with Yuki Otsu (34) from the 2012 London Olympics, Takumi Minamino (29, AS Monaco) and Hiroki Abe (30, Cincinnati) from the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. However, the JFA managed to gather them for the Olympics. But now, club power has increased, and it’s becoming increasingly difficult to obtain their cooperation.
Furthermore, the weather in Qatar in April is hot, with temperatures reaching 35°C or more, similar to midsummer in Japan. While the stadiums have air conditioning, players will still have to endure training and adjustments in extreme heat. In such conditions, the Middle Eastern teams have an advantage. Matches are typically held every two days. It will be a challenging battle for Japan, unable to assemble their best squad.
Another challenge is the lack of international experience among the Paris Olympics generation. The current squad consists of players born between 2001 and 2004, who spent their late teens and early twenties during the COVID-19 pandemic, restricting overseas travel. Furthermore, the U-20 World Cup (W Cup) in 2021, which was supposed to be led by players born between 2001 and 2002, was canceled, along with the cancellation of the Asian final qualifiers. They lack the experience of intense competition.
Former stars such as Shunsuke Nakamura (45, Yokohama FC coach), Shinji Ono (44, J.League Executive Director), Keisuke Honda (37), and Shinji Kagawa (35) all participated in the U-20 W Cup, and they all agree that it helped them understand their position in the world. The absence of this valuable experience is a significant setback.
Only two players, Kusei Matsuki (20, FC Tokyo) and Kotaro Takai (20, Kawasaki), born in 2003 and 2004, barely participated in the U-20 W Cup in 2023 (Argentina), where Japan was eliminated in the group stage. This is yet another negative aspect.
Yamamoto, the National Director, explained, “When I said ‘there is only a sense of crisis,’ it’s largely due to the lack of experience of this generation in the U-20 W Cup.” When it comes down to the final qualifiers, whether the players of Coach Oiwa’s Japan can fully utilize their potential remains uncertain, and the anxiety persists. (31, Liverpool) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (25, Arsenal).
