The U-23 Japan National Team coach TEGURAMORI Makoto revealed his 18-man roster for the Rio de Janeiro Games on 1 July. The squad included forward ASANO Takuma (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and European-based members in forward KUBO Yuya (Berner Sport Club Young Boys/Switzerland), MINAMINO Takumi (Salzburg/Austria). “We would like to play looking for the best medal available,” Teguramori said.

Teguramori's squad also have midfielder ENDO Wataru (Urawa Reds), midfielder NAKAJIMA Shoya (F.C. Tokyo), who scored a pair of goals against the U-23 South Africa National Team in the 2016 KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP on 30 June, and defender IWANAMI Takuya (Vissel Kobe), who’s working on his rehabilitation.

All the members, except for goalkeeper NAKAMURA Kosuke (Kashiwa Reysol) and a pair of overage players in defenders SHIOTANI Tsukasa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) and FUJIHARU Hiroki (Gamba Osaka) and forward KOHROGI Shinzoh, competed in January’s AFC U-23 Championship, which served as the final Olympic qualifier. The team consist of six defenders and four defensive midfielders.

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