Japan supporters will be looking to the goalscoring ability of Shinji Okazaki when the Samurai Blue open third round qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ at the start of September against United Arab Emirates.
The 30-year-old ace-striker is now in his prime, scoring regularly for both club and country. Okazaki netted five times in 36 appearances as Leicester City won the English Premier League in stunning fashion last season. By doing so, he became only the second Japanese player to achieve such a feat after Shinji Kagawa with Manchester United in the 2012/13 season. His international form proved similarly impressive, too, having racked up four goals as Japan won the group in the second qualifying round for Russia 2018.
With continental qualifying commencing in September, FIFA.com caught up with the former Stuttgart marksman to hear about his feats with Leicester City, and Japan's prospects of qualifying from a World Cup group which also features Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Thailand.
EAST ASIAN FOOTBALL FEDERATION
NEWS / RELEASE
Language is changed ENGLISH
10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Okazaki: I'm hungry for World Cup redemption
+
10passion
NEXTBACK
RECOMMEND
- 10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] [AFC U23 Championship] Japan's Moriyasu targets title in Thailand
- 10MA TOPICS! [HONG KONG FA] EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2019 Final - Japan 5:0 Hong Kong
- 10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] SAMURAI BLUE start off tournament with 2-1 victory over China PR - EAFF E-1 Football Championship 2019
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] The Women's U-20 Team Crushes Papua New Guinea 15-0](https://image.eaff.com/index/3377.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] TEGURAMORI pick squad for Rio de Janeiro Olympics](https://image.eaff.com/index/3376.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-19 Japan National Team 1st match of the 2016 NTC Invitational Tournament against U-19 Panama National Team](https://image.eaff.com/index/3375.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] Shin Taeyong Confirms His 18-man Olympic Squad](https://image.eaff.com/index/3374.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] U-16 Japan National Team won the 1st match of the International Dream Cup 2016](https://image.eaff.com/index/3373.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] SON THRILLED WITH AFC ASIAN INTERNATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR AWARD](https://image.eaff.com/index/3372.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [JAPAN FA] Japan U23s name squad to face South Africa as Olympics loom large](https://image.eaff.com/index/3370.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [HONG KONG FA] 2016 HKFA Members' Communication Meeting](https://image.eaff.com/index/3369.jpg)
![10MA TOPICS! [KOREA FA] [In-depth Interview] My Football and U-18 Team - coach Jung Jungyong](https://image.eaff.com/index/3368.jpg)