Mana Iwabuchi misses out on Women's World Cup as Japan name squad | OneFootball

Japan have made a significant decision to omit Mana Iwabuchi from their Women’s World Cup squad this summer.

The midfielder struggled for minutes at Arsenal and Tottenham last season, but her experience playing in three tournaments (including the 2011 win and 2015 run to the final) still wasn’t enough.

“I wasn’t able to join the team this time, but I hope I can entrust my feelings to everyone on the team,” said the 30-year-old on the decision. “Please support Nadeshiko Japan.”

“Iwabuchi is a player who has done a lot to drive this team forward but I am choosing 23 players for this specific time and there is no one reason for my choices,” added manager Futoshi Ikeda.

“It’s about form, fitness, the state of the team and what we need in certain situations.”

Saki Kumagai is, therefore, the only remaining player from the win over a decade ago. Here is the squad in full…

Goalkeepers

Ayaka Yamashita (INAC Kobe), Chika Hirao (Albirex Niigata), Momoko Tanaka (Tokyo Verdy Beleza)

Defenders

Saki Kumagai (AS Roma), Shiori Miyake (INAC Kobe), Risa Shimizu (West Ham United), Kiko Seike (Urawa Reds), Miyabi Moriya (INAC Kobe), Moeka Minami (AS Roma), Hana Takahashi (Urawa Reds), Rion Ishikawa (Urawa Reds)

Midfielders

Hikaru Naomoto (Urawa Reds), Yui Hasegawa (Manchester City), Hina Sugita (Portland Thorns), Honoka Hayashi (West Ham United), Fuka Nagano (Liverpool), Hinata Miyazawa (MyNavi Sendai), Jun Endo (Angel City FC), Aoba Fujino (Albirex Niigata)

Forwards

Mina Tanaka (INAC Kobe), Remina Chiba (JEF United Chiba), Riko Ueki (Tokyo Verdy Beleza), Maika Hamano (Chelsea/Hammarby)