Okazaki leaves Malaga 34 days after joining
Shinji Okazaki's spell with Spanish side Malaga has been cut short after less than four weeks.
2019 Schedule
All times ETShinji Okazaki's spell with Spanish side Malaga has been cut short after less than four weeks.
Japan and Ecuador were eliminated from the Copa America on Monday after their 1-1 draw gifted Paraguay a quarterfinal berth.
Japan played very well against Uruguay, so it's no surprise they earned a draw. But the result revealed that Uruguay have some things to work out.
Uruguay twice came from behind to draw 2-2 against a superb Japan side in the Copa America with the help of two questionable decisions.
A 4-0 win over Japan looks good on paper, but the reality is Chile's ageing group of once-great stars will be in trouble against more quality sides.
Manchester United misfit Alexis Sanchez scored for the first time in five months as Chile beat Japan 4-0 in their Copa America title-defence opener.
Kensuke Nagai scored his first goals for Japan with a brace in a 2-0 win over El Salvador in Miyagi on Sunday.
Trinidad and Tobago held a tired-looking Japan to a 0-0 draw during an uninspiring friendly at Toyota Stadium in Aichi on Wednesday.
Keisuke Honda is hunting his next "great opportunity" as he seeks to keep his football career alive to the Tokyo Olympics next year.
Lionel Messi is determined to win a trophy with Argentina. Is this his summer? We get you ready for a thrilling Copa, all of it live on ESPN+.
Shoya Nakajima came off the bench to score the only goal in a 1-0 victory for Japan over Bolivia in an international friendly in Kobe on Tuesday.
Colombia's record goal scorer Radamel Falcao scored from the penalty spot to defeat Japan 1-0 on Friday.
Qatar has joined a growing list of recent tournament winners - like Chile, Portugal and France - that functioned almost solely as the reactive team.
Qatar claimed their first Asian Cup triumph with a stunning 3-1 win over four-times champions Japan on Friday.
A Bundesliga winner with Dortmund in 2011 and 2012, the 29-year-old Japan international was originally signed for €350,000 from Cerezo Osaka.
The last time Japan became AFC champions, Shinji Kagawa was the toast of Asia. Now, the 29-year-old will be watching the Asian Cup final from home.
Yuya Osako scored twice in 11 second-half minutes to help four-times champions Japan beat Iran and reach the Asian Cup final.
Maty Ryan earned champions Australia a quarterfinal place in the Asian Cup on Monday as he made two saves in a shootout to see off Uzbekistan.
Japan are out to win their group in the Asian Cup, but not due to any fear of meeting defending champions Australia in the knockout stage.
Sunil Chhetri's popularity, Pakistani food in Abu Dhabi and an Iraqi fan's journey feature in our Asian Cup diaries.
While the newly-expanded Asian Cup format will have 24 teams, expect to see one of the traditional powerhouses lift the trophy in Abu Dhabi.
Leicester City striker Shinji Okazaki and Borussia Dortmund playmaker Shinji Kagawa were omitted from Japan's 23-man squad for the 2019 Asian Cup.
Venezuela captain Tomas Rincon's penalty nine minutes from full-time earned a 1-1 draw in a friendly against Japan in Oita on Friday.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu remains undefeated after five games in charge following a 4-0 rout of Kyrgyzstan in Toyota City on Tuesday.
Japan made it three wins out of three under new coach Hajime Moriyasu with a thrilling 4-3 victory over Uruguay in a friendly on Tuesday night.
TEAM | GP | W | D | L | GD | P |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Japan | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +13 | 12 |
Kyrgyz Republic | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | +5 | 7 |
Tajikistan | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 7 |
Myanmar | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | -8 | 6 |
Mongolia | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | -8 | 3 |