Position: Forward
Born: 07.08.80
Club: JEF United Chiba

With Japan's lack of a top striker, Zico was always likely to pull off a surprise selection up front, and Seiichiro Maki was the lucky recipient of a late call-up.

With three goals in nine caps prior to the squad announcement - one of which came in the Kirin Cup - Maki now needs to show he was worth the gamble.

The JEF United Chiba man has been one of the few home-grown players to feature towards the top of the J-League goal charts this season, dominated as it is by Brazilian imports.

Maki was predominantly selected over injury-plagued Yokohama F Marinos striker Tatsuhiko Kubo, who some English fans may remember scoring twice in a 3-2 win over Iceland at the City of Manchester Stadium in the mini-tournament prior to Euro 2004.

But with Atsushi Yanagisawa's fitness far from certain, Zico could not afford to take two crocked forwards to Germany so he plumped for the enthusiastic Maki instead.