He participated in team training for the first time on the 16th and said, “I’m still in pain,” but showed hope for the possibility of participating in the third game.
Kaoru Mitoma (Brighton), the leading striker of the Japanese national team, increased his chances of participating by joining team training for the first time since arriving in Doha, Qatar, where the ‘2023 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup’ will be held.
Japan will play the second match of Group D of the Asian Cup against Iraq at the Education City Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar at 8:30 pm (Korean time) on the 19th. As this is a match between two teams that both won in the first game, early advancement to the round of 16 may be confirmed.
With an important schedule ahead, the Japanese national team trained at the El Arsal Training Center in Doha, Qatar, on the 16th. Mitoma participated in team training and attracted attention.
Mitoma was injured in a league match against Crystal Palace (1-1 draw) on the 22nd of last month and is expected to miss at least 4 to 6 weeks. As it was his ankle injury, it was assessed that it would be difficult to expect him to recover quickly.
Nevertheless, Japanese coach Hajime Moriyasu included Mitoma in the 26-man roster. Accordingly, coach Roberto De Zerbi, who leads Brighton in the English Professional Football Premier League (EPL), cast a question mark, saying, “I think it will be difficult for Mitoma to play in the Asian Cup.”
Contrary to expectations, Mitoma appears to be recovering quickly. According to multiple Japanese media outlets such as ‘Football Zone’, on the 15th, he wore soccer shoes and trained with a ball for the first time, and on this day, the entire team even joined training for the first time.
However, it is known that they only participated in team runs and did not participate in mini games. It is said that he warmed up by running 70 to 80 meters alone.
After training, Mitoma said to the Japanese media, “I still have pain,” and then hinted at the possibility of an early return, saying, “It would be best if that happens, but I don’t know yet,” regarding the possibility of participating in the third game against Indonesia scheduled for the 24th.
Meanwhile, Japan is the country that has won the most Asian Cups (4 times) and is attempting to win the title for the 5th time in 13 years since 2011. 19가이드03