FR
EN
4 May 2019
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Japan (8/12)
A few weeks before its 47th edition, from 1st to 15th June, the Maurice Revello Tournament goes back in time. Since 1967, thousands of players have trodden the Festival’s pitches. Among them, nearly 2000 became international within the sixty-five different nations who have taken part in the competition. To travel through the Tournament’s fifty years of history, each one marked by some famous football players at their debuts, we have imagined twelve dream teams, country by country. Eighth best XI, Japan.
Shusaku Nishikawa (2004 & 2008) : A few months before his participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, the Japanese goalkeeper participated twice in the Maurice Revello Tournament (2004 and 2008). Winner of the Japanese League Cup the same year, he has also won the Asian Nations Cup in 2011. The following year, he won the Japan League in 2012. He had 24 caps with the national team, and he is currently pursuing his career in the Japanese club Urawa Red Diamonds.
Atsuto Uchida (2007) : The Japanese right-back had his first national title in 2007, the year of his participation in the Maurice Revello Tournament. Two years later, he won the national league. After the World Cup in South Africa, he signed for Schalke 04 and he became the first Japanese to compete in a Champions League semi-final. The following year, he won his first European title, the Germany Cup.
Atsuto Uchida during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2007
Yuichi Komano (2001 & 2002) : The Japanese defender was playing for Hiroshima during his two participations to the Maurice Revello Tournament in a row (2001 & 2002). He left the club after 226 games and 11 goals scored. During the 2010 World Cup, we remember his missed shot during the penalty shootout, in the round of sixteen against Paraguay.
Maya Yoshida (2008) : The Southampton central defender participated in the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2008, then hejoined Nagoya. In 2012, he took discovered the Dutch football by signing for VVV Venlo. Two years later, he signed a contract with Southampton. In the national squad, he is a major element with his 95 caps and 10 goals scored.
Maya Yoshida against France during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2008
Gōtoku Sakai (2012) : He participated in the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2012. The following year, he joined Stuttgart for three and a half years. Currently, he is playing in Hamburg SV with more 100 games to his credit.
Gotoku Sakai (left) during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2012
Shinji Kagawa (2007) : The Japanese midfielder started his career at Cerezo Osaka before his only participation in the Maurice Revello Tournament (2007). In 2010, he signed for three years for Borussia Dortmund and became a key player of the team. By being bought by Manchester United, he became the first Japanese ever to wear the Red Devils' shirt. After the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, he went back to Dortmund. Since this year, he has been loaned out to Besiktas.
1.JPG)
Shinji Kagawa and Kevin Gameiro during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2007
Hajime Hosogai (2008) : The midfielder represented his country at the Maurice Revello Tournament (2008). Then, he took part in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He made his professional debut through friendly games, before being called-up for the victorious 2011 Asian Cup. He continued his career at Bayer Leverkusen and FC Augsburg. He plays now in Japan.
Hajime Hosogai against Chile during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2008
Makoto Hasebe (2003) : After participating in the Maurice Revello Tournament in 2003, he stayed in Saitama. Like many of his compatriots, the Japanese defensive midfielder made his international debut in Germany. In 2008, he was transferred to Wolfsburg, before moving to Nuremberg in 2013, and finally moved to Frankfurt a year later.
Keisuke Honda (2008) : The Japanese midfielder once participated in the Maurice Revello Tournament (2008), when he played in Netherlands, with the VVV Venlo. Then, he went in many countries : Russia (CSKA Moscow), Italy (AC Milan), Mexico (CF Pachuca), and Australia (Melbourne Victory) since 2018. It was during his visit to Russia, between 2010 and 2013, that he played the most (127 games).
Keisuke Honda and Claudio Marchisio during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2008
Shinji Okazaki (2008) : The Japanese striker was playing at Shiimizu S-Pulse a during his only participation in the Maurice Revello Tournament (2008). In 2010, he joined Stuttgart and scored 13 goals in 85 games. In 2013, he continued his German adventure by making his debut in Mainz, with significantly better statistics : 70 games, 29 goals. A year later, he became the Japanese player who scored the most in the history of the Bundesliga. Transferred to Leicester in 2015, he was champion of England.
Shinji Okazaki against France during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2008
Yuya Osako (2010 & 2012) : The Japanese forward competed twice in the Maurice Revello Tournament (2010 and 2012). Two years after his last participation, he began his European career by playing for Munich 1860. He was finally bought by Koln and joined then Werder Bremen.
1.jpg)
Yuya Osako against Turkey during the Maurice Revello Tournament 2012
The Japan best XI in the Maurice Revello Tournament history :
Nishikawa - Uchida, Komano, Yoshida, Sakai - Kagawa, Hosogai, Hasebe, Honda - Okazaki, Osako.
READ ALSO
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : England (1/12)
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Argentina (2/12)
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Italy (3/12)
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Ivory Coast (4/12)
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : USA (5/12)
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Netherlands (6/12)
Best XIs of the Maurice Revello Tournament : Brazil (7/12)
Paul Schmitt
