Shinji Okazaki

[Helios]

[Kefka-Palazzo]

he scored 14 goals in 18 games for Japan national team, a amazing record

[Helios]

The NT coach admitted that he wasn't expecting such a good performance. He has incredibly progressed as a player since last year, he does pretty much everything on the pitch and does it very well. Possibly the next revelation of the World Cup.

The quasi-totality of his goals were either 1-Touch shots or headers. He leaves no chance to the goalkeepers because he strikes the ball too quickly, as soon as he gets a shooting opportunity.

His two goals against Finland (Two 1-touch shots : one with his left foot and another one with the right one) summarizes pretty well his style :



(Raised header and technique by 1 point). His aerial abilities could be higher but I prefer to leave things that way for now.

[Helios]

Updated

Attack: 78 (+1)
Response: 84 (+1)
Header: 84 (+1)
Jump: 82 (+1)

[Helios]

Just received his trophy as the 2009 top goal-scorer in the world at International level.

[Helios]

Won all his duels vs J. Terry and was sharper and faster to react than R. Ferdinand.

A lot of reasons come to mind, lack of motivation, underestimating the opponent, fear of injuries but I'd seriously worry about England's defense if they're going to be the starting pair. King/Upson and Carragher would be perhaps better choices.

[Josh]

His defence is very high, any particular reason ?

[Helios]

His defence is very high, any particular reason ?

Due to his placement (usually relatively distant from the box) and fair involvement in defensive tasks. He is also more of an SS than a real striker, at club's level he is frequently playing as a "9,5" associated to a target man. I personally prefer to have him registered as a striker but interchanging his respective positions is equally right.

Even played attacking midfielder in his early days. I can't imagine someone playing in those positions having anything less than 50.

[Josh]

Fair enough.

[Helios]

He accepted an offer from Stuttgart apparently.

[michalk772]

He plays in VfB Stuttgart in 2011

[Helios]

It's safe to say he is a VfB Stuttgart player, the medical checkup (after the end of Asian Cup) is only a simple formality.

[Helios]

A Hat-Trick against Saudi Arabia.

[N3KR0]

This guy is amazing, his Mentality could do with a boost.

[Raulic]

Move him to Stuttgart !

[sam250]

Please move him to Stuttgart ! Is it a source that you want http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1373262.html here!!

[soccermaniakk]

yes move him to stuttgart

[Fiddy]

I really think that his positional sense and movements in the box are superior than Harnik's who sits on an 78 aswell. any thoughts ?

[ominho]

I don't know how he's doing in Germany. But in my impression from his Japanese NT games mainly last Asian cup or WC, he can have at least 2~3 higer values than Matsui's 77 as a side attacker role. And he has clearly better positional sense in box than Morimoto(79) as a CF. Do you feel 80 is overrating?

And I think he's one of Chasing back card candidates, I remember he had been used for last defense against Denmark & Cameroon. In my view he's Japanese Dirk Kuyt.

[Fiddy]

nop, 80 wouldn't overrate him, thats what i have him at actually.