On the 2nd, the Japan Football Association (JFA) announced 27 Japanese national team members who will be competing in the international friendly match against Paraguay (10th, Panasta) in Tokyo (14th, Ajita). Midfielder Saito Mitsuki (24, Queen's Park), who was the number 10th at the Paris Olympics last summer, was selected for the first time. A talented talent who was a regular at the representatives of each age group since childhood has finally reached his goal. He is expected to be able to perform well on the left side in place of midfielder Mito Kaoru (28, Brighton), who was not selected due to injury to his left foot.
◇ ◇ ◇
Saito has finally reached the A national team. There is only one mark next to the name on the member table indicating the first call. As the only new force, they will face two consecutive matches against South American players. Manager Moriyasu Kazushi (57) said, “I would like you to come up with ideas where the attack will be the starting point, where you will set up a move towards the opponent's goal, and where you will work in conjunction with the team.” He has been closely watched since his time at Yokohama FC, and was on the list in June, which he was revealed to have been called up due to an injury, so there are high hopes.
Born in 2001, the same as Kubo. Using his dribbling and shooting as his weapons, he was chosen as a generational representative by the U-16. In 2019, he skipped the grade at the U-20 World Cup Poland tournament. The elite who played number 10 at last summer's Paris Olympics had no connection to the full national team, with a strong attacking group, but they were named as the “2001 generation” along with Kubo, Fujita and Mochizuki.
“It has energy like the sun.” Coach Ono Nobuyoshi (currently coach of the U-16 Japan national team), who Saito was coached in junior high and high school, and whom he admired as his mentor, commented on his student. Before the Olympics last summer, he said, “It gives energy to those around him, and he also feels the energy to move forward towards his goals. In that sense, the Olympic team alone is not enough,” he said, “I think there are probably some people who feel that they are not part of the A team.” He reached Japan's highest peak thanks to his consistent performance at the Queens Park Rangers (QPR) in the second division.
I was invited to an even better opportunity. Mito, an absolute regular on the left side, was not selected. Nakamura and Soma are competing for positions, and are returning. If you give an impressive performance here, you can become a regular in no time. The up-and-coming talent, who told the manager, “We are still calling him a force, but we can expect further growth,” will make a strong appeal to him as a member of the North and Central American World Cup next year.[Sato Naru]
▼Saito Kouki
◆Born Born in Tokyo on August 10th, 2001 (Heisei 13).
◆Size: 170cm, 61kg.
◆Competition history In elementary school, he was in Inukura SC and from junior high school to Yokohama FC's youth organization. He signed a professional contract in 2018 as a second-year high school student. In 2021, he joined the Belgian second division Rommel and the Dutch first division Sparta, and then transferred to QPR this season.
◆Position MF/FW.
◆Favourite plays: Sharp dribbling and shooting.
◆Airplane The goal performance is a Blue Impulse pose with open arms.
◆Kazusato Miura Tomoyoshi of JFL Atletico Suzuka, who formed the top position in the 35-year age gap during his time at Yokohama FC.
[Japan National Team]Mito Kaoru is not selected, Kubo Takefusa, who suffers from ankle pain, is called up. Coach Moriyasu: “Contact with the person himself, medical decision”
