Courtesy: Japan Times


'King Kazu' set to play in Futsal World Cup

Thursday, Sep. 20, 2012

Former Japan striker Kazuyoshi Miura will be named to the country's Futsal World Cup squad, Kyodo News learned on Wednesday.

The 45-year-old Miura, arguably the most popular Japanese soccer player of all time who currently plays for J. League second division side Yokohama FC, had been asked by coach Miguel Rodrigo to take part in the Nov. 1-18 tournament in Thailand.

Miura has accepted the offer, and will be among the names read out at Thursday's squad announcement.

"We're very thrilled," Japan Football Association President Kuniya Daini told Kyodo News. "He'll bring more quality to the team which is the most important thing, but his participation will also shed more light on futsal."

Miura, who was cut from Japan's inaugural World Cup squad for France '98, made a one-match cameo for Espolada Hokkaido in the Japanese F-League in January. He is the oldest to have ever played in the J. League.

Japan, Asian futsal champions, have been drawn with Brazil, Libya and Portugal in the first round.




Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com