Why Keito Nakamura could be Japan's ace in the pac...
Key takeaways
- In a parallel universe, he might not have been on the pitch.
- Plenty has spoken about the injuries that have hit Japan ahead of the tournament.
- Already, this has made him a bit of a trump card for Moriyasu given how opposing teams might not originally have made overly comprehensive plans to counter the specific threat he might pose.
Why this matters: a sports story that could shift standings, legacies, or fan conversations.
In a parallel universe, he might not have been on the pitch.
Plenty has spoken about the injuries that have hit Japan ahead of the tournament. Star duo Takumi Minamino and Kaoru Mitoma were not even included in the squad before captain Wataru Endo was an 11th-hour withdrawal -- robbing the Samurai Blue of three guaranteed starters who played pivotal roles throughout the Asian qualifiers for the World Cup.
Because of the reshuffle in personnel that Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu, Nakamura -- who started just four of 10 games in the third round of the Asian qualifiers where the Samurai Blue booked their ticket to North America -- has been one of those who has now found himself playing a more influential role than he might have initially expected.