Honda emerges for Japan as Nakamura fades

Former Celtic star Shunsuke Nakamura may have made his last international appearance for Japan, while up-and-coming CSKA Moscow player Keisuke Honda led Japan’s attack at the World Cup.

By scoring two goals and setting up another in leading the Blue Samurai to the verge of reaching the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, Honda has shown them the way to go ahead of Brazil 2014.

“I’m through,” 32-year-old Nakamura told reporters, when asked if he would play for his country again, after Japan lost to Paraguay 5-3 on penalties in a last-16 round game.

On Thursday, his words were published in a sports daily reading: “I have decided that my international career is over.”

Nakamura, the key playmaker in Japan’s qualifying campaign, was used only once in Japan’s four matches at South Africa 2010 – as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 defeat by the favoured Dutch.

That was down to coach Takeshi Okada’s bold decision to no longer use Nakamura as his midfield focus and put the 24-year-old midfielder Honda in a lone frontman’s role to boost his side’s feeble firepower.

Honda, reputed for his physical strength and straight-talking, lived up to Okada’s expectations while the team shifted to defensive tactics from an all-around game which had worked against most Asian sides.

“I believe that we must show the world next time that we can fight more aggressively,” said Honda. “We need to improve our individual skills and I think that younger Japanese players must play abroad.”

After four years with J-League powerhouse Nagoya Grampus, Honda moved to VVV Venlo in early 2008 and helped them climb back to the top of Dutch league for the 2008-2009 season.

He joined CSKA in January in a nine-million-euro (11.5 million-dollar) deal. He set up a goal and scored another for a 3-2 aggregate victory over Sevilla making him the first Japanese player to reach the Champions League quarter-finals in April.

In contrast, Nakamura’s fortunes have declined since he moved to Espanyol in June 2009 after three years with Reggina and four years with Celtic.

Nakamura, who helped Celtic become the Scottish champions three times, is remembered for two free kicks he scored against Manchester United in 2006 to help the Glasgow outfit reach the Champions League knock-out stage for the first time.

His Spanish deal was cut short after six disappointing months and he returned to his old J-League home Yokohama Marinos in February. His poor form has been compounded by a left ankle injury he suffered in a league match.

The two left-footed deadball masters both celebrated their birthdays in South Africa.

Nakamura recalled his World Cup misfortunes. He was dropped from the 2002 squad by French firebrand coach Philippe Troussier when Japan reached the last-16 round on home turf.

In 2006, injury sidelined him as Japan bowed out with two defeats and one draw.