Defensive linchpin Saki Kumagai is set to captain Nadeshiko Japan at her fourth Women's World Cup after being named Tuesday in head coach Futoshi Ikeda's squad for the tournament kicking off next month in Australia and New Zealand.
The AS Roma defender-midfielder headlines a 23-woman squad with several overseas-based footballers, including Manchester City playmaker Yui Hasegawa and Liverpool midfielder Fuka Nagano.
Veteran Tottenham Hotspur attacker Mana Iwabuchi, a member of Japan's 2011 World Cup-winning team, was the biggest name left out.
The newly crowned champions of Japan's WE League, Urawa Reds, contributed four players, including Best XI midfielders Hikaru Naomoto and Kiko Seike, as did domestic powerhouse INAC Kobe Leonessa.
Japan, who finished runners-up in 2015, will try to improve on their round-of-16 exit four years ago in France.
They will be based in New Zealand for all three of their Group C games at the July 20 to Aug. 20 World Cup, starting with their opening clash against Zambia at Hamilton's Waikato Stadium on July 22.
Japan will face Costa Rica in Dunedin on July 26 before wrapping up the group stage against Spain in Wellington on July 31. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.
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Nadeshiko Japan's World Cup squad:
Goalkeepers: Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Chika Hirao (Albirex Niigata Ladies), Momoko Tanaka (Tokyo Verdy Beleza)
Field players: Saki Kumagai, Moeka Minami (AS Roma), Hikaru Naomoto, Kiko Seike, Hana Takahashi, Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Reds), Mina Tanaka, Shiori Miyake, Miyabi Moriya (INAC Kobe Leonessa), Honoka Hayashi, Risa Shimizu (West Ham), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Fuka Nagano (Liverpool), Hina Sugita (Portland Thorns), Remina Chiba (JEF United), Riko Ueki, Aoba Fujino (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Hinata Miyazawa (Mynavi Sendai), Jun Endo (Angel City FC), Maika Hamano (Hammarby).
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