In Japan, where there are only 20 European league players, a Middle Eastern leaguer plays as a starter on the national team! Who is that?

Shogo Taniguchi. Central defender who plays for Al Rayyan SC in the Qatar Stars League. Taniguchi is a key defender who led Japan’s advance to the round of 16 at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. 183cm 75kg. Taniguchi’s strengths include clever defense and build-up. In the 2017 season, when he played for Kawasaki Frontale, he scored 7 goals and 2 assists in 34 J1 League games. Taniguchi was Japan’s regular center back at the 2023 Qatar Asian Cup. On June 6, he played 90 minutes in the 5th game of the North and Central America World Cup 2nd qualifying round against Myanmar, contributing to Japan’s 5-0 victory. Of the 26 players on the Japanese national team roster in June, 20 are European leaguers… Taniguchi played for Kawasaki from 2014 to 2022, and later for Al Rayyan. Maintaining competitiveness in the Japanese national team, where there are many European league players… I admit it, bro. #Japan #Japanese Soccer #Qatar