Saturday, March 12, 2011
The Japan National team has been considered Asia’s best since 1998 when Japan first qualified for the World Cup, that was led by Hidetoshi Nakata and Gon Nakayama. Now, they have featured such talent as Cska Moscow’s Keisuke Honda, VFL Wolfsburg’ Makoto Hasebe, Borussia Dortmund’s Shinji Kagawa and Inter Milan’s Yuto Nagatomo. As great as they are, the Japanese national team has always been considered a midfield team as most of the talent plays in that position, it has never produced a center-forward that can changes the tide of a match by just his sheer presence.
The closest thing that the national team ever produced in the striker spot would be Kazuyoshi Miura, as he had 55 goals in 89 appearances but as great as it seems, it was considered a padded record as most of the countries he faced were never first class competition. As a matter of fact, his scoring rate outside Japan is a huge disappointment as is less than 0.30 which is way below the world average for a forward.
Enter, Takayuki Morimoto.
Morimoto is a forward who plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A. He holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J. League history (which he did at the age of 15 years old). Only at 22, he has been already hailed as a young ‘Ronaldo’ for his size (180 cm – 5’ft 11in), strength and speed. As a matter fact, AC Milan’s Alexander Pato considers him the best young player in Serie A.
In fact, He scored 10 goals in 25 matches during the 2009 campaign for Catania. He has attract interest from teams from France and even from Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, not for his shirt selling skills (ask Junichi Inamoto and his time in Arsenal) but because of his scary potential. The only problem with him is that he lacks playing time for his current club, as they are loaded in the forward position but he has proven that he can score even though with just limited playing time.
If he were to play regularly especially in Europe, he can easily hone his skill and live up to this potential. This would be a great asset for his club and a huge asset for the National team as he might be the difference in reaching the semis for the blue samurais in the next World cup.
From Left to right (Up to down) – Honda, Hasebe, Kagawa, Nagatomo – Japan’s best players right now
The closest thing that the national team ever produced in the striker spot would be Kazuyoshi Miura, as he had 55 goals in 89 appearances but as great as it seems, it was considered a padded record as most of the countries he faced were never first class competition. As a matter of fact, his scoring rate outside Japan is a huge disappointment as is less than 0.30 which is way below the world average for a forward.
Enter, Takayuki Morimoto.
Morimoto
Morimoto is a forward who plays for Calcio Catania in the Italian Serie A. He holds the record for the youngest Japanese player to make his professional debut and the youngest scorer in J. League history (which he did at the age of 15 years old). Only at 22, he has been already hailed as a young ‘Ronaldo’ for his size (180 cm – 5’ft 11in), strength and speed. As a matter fact, AC Milan’s Alexander Pato considers him the best young player in Serie A.
Speed, Size and Strength – The complete package
In fact, He scored 10 goals in 25 matches during the 2009 campaign for Catania. He has attract interest from teams from France and even from Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, not for his shirt selling skills (ask Junichi Inamoto and his time in Arsenal) but because of his scary potential. The only problem with him is that he lacks playing time for his current club, as they are loaded in the forward position but he has proven that he can score even though with just limited playing time.
Future Red Devil or Gunner?!?
If he were to play regularly especially in Europe, he can easily hone his skill and live up to this potential. This would be a great asset for his club and a huge asset for the National team as he might be the difference in reaching the semis for the blue samurais in the next World cup.
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