Position: Midfielder
Born: 01.09.76
Club: Jubilo Iwata

Takashi Fukunishi is one of Zico's favourite players, a deep-lying midfielder with a constructive passing range and acute positional sense.

He was a stalwart of the Asian Zone qualifying campaign, appearing in nine matches and scoring three goals.

Having made his national-team debut back in the Copa America tournament in Paraguay in 1999, Fukunishi had a relatively slow start to his international career and failed to make the cut for the last World Cup on home soil.

However, after Japan's second-round exit, he began to impress in friendlies and then accumulated caps at a rapid rate when Zico took over the reins.

Now with over 50 caps to his name, Fukunishi is at the peak of his game and will expect a place in the starting line-up, patrolling in front of the back four.