Position: Goalkeeper
Born: 15.08.75
Club: Jubilo Iwata

Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi will need all of his renowned agility if he is to keep the likes of Ronaldinho, Dado Prso and Mark Viduka at bay in Group F.

The most experienced player in the Japan squad with over 80 caps, Kawaguchi first shot to worldwide fame when he performed heroically in goal in a 1-0 win over Brazil at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.

He continued to shine in the J-League and was eventually brought to Europe by Portsmouth. He made a series of appearances in the old Nationwide One in the winter of 2001 but conceded 21 goals in 11 games and the final straw proved to be a 4-1 home defeat by Leyton Orient in the FA Cup.

Kawaguchi never started for Pompey again and after a short stint in Norway with Nordsjaelland, he was only back-up keeper to Seigo Narazaki at the 2002 World Cup.

However, a move back home to Jubilo kick-started his career again and Kawaguchi soon won back the number one jersey and has now re-established himself as Japan's first-choice netminder.