3 Non-Japanese J.League Players His State Squad At The 2022 World Cup

Danigata Thomas Deng. Deng became a Japanese League player who strengthened his country, namely Australia at the 2022 World Cup (Photo: Antara)

JAKATA - Qatar's 2022 World Cup will run from November 20 to December 18 and the best players from participating countries have been registered with the organizers including 10 players who have been competing in J.League or the Japanese League.

There are three non-Japanese players who play in J.League and strengthen the country at the 2022 World Cup. The players are based on data compiled by Antara, Thursday are Kwon Kyung-won from South Korea, Mitchell Duke and Thomas Deng from Australia.

Kwon Kyung-won has been strengthening the Gambi Osaka team. The 30-year-old defender chosen by coach Paulo Bento is one of nine defenders brought to Qatar.

Kwon defended Gambi Osaka starting in early 2022 after being brought in from South Korean club Seongnam FC. He then appeared 19 times in all competitions, 16 of which were in the Meiji Yasuda J1 League, with a record of two goals.

Kwon made his debut in the South Korean national team in a friendly match against Russia, October 7, 2017, and now has 28 caps with a record of two goals. He had entered the interim squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, although later he was not named in 23 selected names.

Two other players are all from Australia, namely Mitchell Duke and Thomas Deng. Mitchell Duke is a 31-year-old veteran striker who defended the second caste team at J.League, Fagiano Okayama.

Duke joined Faciano Okayama in the summer of 2021 after being brought in by Saudi Arabia's Al-Taawoun FC team, after being loaned out to the Australian League team, Western Sydney. In the J2 League, Duke played 37 times dAKARTA - with eight goals and three assists.

Duke made his national team debut when Australia became an invited team at the 2013 East Asian Cup against South Korea and scored his first goal against Japan.

Now, Duke is still relied on as the main striker by Australian national team coach Graham Arnold, including Australia's last match in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Peru in the intercontinental play-off match.

Meanwhile, Thomas Deng is currently also strengthening the second tier club of the Japanese League, Albirex Niigata and has even listed his name as one of the players who brought the team to win the Meiji Yasuda J2 League this season.

This season, Deng played eight times for Albirex Niigata after joining the Urawa Red Diamonds at the start of the season.

Deng, who is a player with South Sudanese blood and was born in Kenya who moved to Australia with his parents when he was six years old, made his debut with the Australian national team in a friendly match against Kuwait, October 15, 2018, and played a total of two games for the Kangaroo Country.

Apart from being a senior national team, Deng was also a mainstay in the U-23 national team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, including being captain when Australia beat Argentina 2-0.