Nadeshiko Japan squad announced for the Olympics

GK:
FUKUMOTO Miho 1983.10.02 165/66 (Height/weight)
KAIHORI Ayumi 1986.09.04 170/64

DF:
IKEDA Hiromi 1975.12.22 163/52
YANAGITA Miyuki 1981.04.11 158/54
ANDO Kozue 1982.07.09 164/57
KINGA Yukari 1984.05.02 161/53
YANO Kyoko 1984.06.03 164/55
IWASHIMIZU Azusa 1986.10.14 161/52

My favorite player are by no doubt Kozue Ando, and expect her to be a key contributor in the Olympics.

MF:
KATO Tomoe 1978.05.27 158/50
SAWA Homare 1978.09.06 164/55
HARA Ayumi 1979.02.21 166/59
MIYAMA Aya 1985.01.28 157/50
SAKAGUCHI Mizuho 1987.10.15 165/57
UTSUGI Rumi 1988.12.05 168/57

FW:
ARAKAWA Eriko 1979.10.30 166/55
MARUYAMA Karina 1983.03.26 163/55
OHNO Shinobu 1984.01.23 154/50
NAGASATO Yuki 1987.07.15 167/60

Compared to Japan’s squad in the last World Cup, there isn’t too many changes, and pretty much every single key player from back then are still in the squad. Japan’s weakest link were clearly the defence back then, and it doesn’t look too strengthened really. But in midfield and up front Japan are probably among the better in the Olympics, and could achieve success if they manage to score more than they concede. Japan are well-known for their offensive and effective play on the wings, with especially Kozue Ando and Ayumi Hara as key contributors. In centre midfield veteran playmaker and one of the most highly regarded players in the world Homare Sawa will pull the strings, together with the quick-stepped and technically gifted Aya Miyama. Up front bomberhead Eriko Arakawa and Yuki Nagasato forms a deadly duo, and are able to beat most defences.

Japan plays Australia and Argentina before the Olympics start, and I’ll come with a little more info after those matches are played, along with a small prediction.