SYDNEY: Shinji Kagawa may be struggling to rediscover his mojo for Japan but captain Makoto Hasebe believes he has the right stuff to be their future leader.
Hasebe's pick to take over the armband will come as something of a surprise, despite Kagawa breaking a scoring drought dating back to last June in Japan's 2-0 Asian Cup win over Jordan earlier this week.
"In terms of technique and quality, you can't have any doubts about him as a player," Hasebe told reporters as Japan prepared for Friday's quarter-final against the United Arab Emirates. "The rest is the mental side."
While Kagawa attempts to blow off the cobwebs after a difficult year, Japan talisman Keisuke Honda has taken the team by the scruff of the neck in Australia as the holders look to bounce back from last year's World Cup flop in Brazil.
AC Milan dynamo Honda, who scored in all three of Japan's group games, has been cradling babies and posing for photographs with fans as if running for public office, and would appear the natural choice for captain.
Southampton defender Maya Yoshida would be another candidate but Hasebe, who made a record 56th appearance as Japan captain against Jordan, insisted: "If (Shinji) can just develop the ability to carry the team it will be a big plus for Japan."
Kagawa's confidence took such a battering after failing to establish himself at Manchester United that he was a peripheral figure at the World Cup and has not reached anything like his top form for the Blue Samurai since.
His return to Borussia Dortmund has also done little to boost his international displays and his late strike against Jordan came as a huge relief to both the player and his team mates after months in the doldrums.
Where Honda shoots from the hip, already earning himself a fine at the Asian Cup for criticising the standard of refereeing, Kagawa is one of the least vocal players in the Japan side.
But that did not stop Hasebe endorsing the playmaker as his choice for future skipper.
"I think he would be a good captain," said the 31-year-old. "Your circumstances are what make you as a person. If he takes on that responsibility I think certain things will change."
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