Sports

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Workhorse Hasebe leads Japanese troupe

The Bundesliga could almost single-handedly field a Japanese team, save for the goalie and central defenders. And captain Makoto Hasebe plies his trade in Wolfsburg. A midfielder who's versatile, tireless and technically adept, it's easy to see why Hasebe leads the Japanese. Even Felix Magath, a taskmaster so hard as to be loathed by many stars, extended Hasebe's Wolfsburg contract when in charge.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Takashi Inui monsters the top-division hurdle

One of the most impressive actors in Frankfurt's Cinderella Bundesliga season was Japanese winger Takashi Inui. After a short stint with Bochum in the second division, Inui moved up with Frankfurt and helped the side qualify for European competition. Perhaps against poorly prepared opponents who had not done their scouting homework, Inui was red hot early in the season as a fresh Bundesliga face.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

A rare ray of Nuremberg sunshine

Bundesliga mid-table mainstays Nuremberg aren't always the most exciting team to watch, but they do boast one of the league's most exhilarating forwards. Not just a set piece specialist, Hiroshi Kiyotake can dribble, link play and boasts a wicked shot. Likely to warm Japan's Confederations Cup bench, he is a promising understudy for star attacking midfielders like Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Dante steps into the next circle

Bayern Munich's Brazilian bargain and defensive rock enjoyed his breakout season at the late age of 29. It's hard to catch the Selecao's eye during three years starring for an often relegation-threatened Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Bundesliga. Winning a treble with Bayern is a different story, though. Now, the defender who has toured Europe for a decade is finally capped, and famous, at home.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Bayern bench boy makes Brazilian grade

Like Dante, Luiz Gustavo missed the German Cup final and Bayern's treble when Brazil insisted that the pair link up with the squad 14 days ahead of the Confederations Cup. Bayern were not amused - and neither were the players, if Säbener Strasse sources are on the money. A holding midfielder who's too good to serve as a Bayern sub, Luiz Gustavo may be leaving Bavaria this summer.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Long-service medal at Schalke

Right back Atsuto Uchida has played three seasons with Schalke, in times of gladness and sadness. He retains a sharp sense of identity with Japan - one day after the 2011 earthquake and tsunami he donned a shirt with hand-written well-wishes in Japanese and German for those affected. Uchida has 57 international caps; it's probably fair to say he's 'first reserve' in Schalke's back line.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Another Shinji, this time in Stuttgart

Shinji Okazaki struggles for playing time in Stuttgart but is something of a regular with Japan, playing alongside the Bundesliga's most famous, departed Japanese star Shinji Kagawa. The versatile attacker nearly scored in this month's German Cup final, with Japan evidently less concerned than tournament hosts Brazil about the 'deadline' for players joining their Confederations Cup squads.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Two good feet, plus some defensive naivete

Like Okazaki, Gotoku Sakai came on as a sub for Stuttgart in the German Cup final. This cross to Martin Harnik set up the southerners' first goal as they managed to make the mighty Bayern sweat a little in the closing phases of the game. First choice at right back for much of the season, Sakai has sometimes struggled to cope as part of a defense that conceded an above-average 55 Bundesliga goals.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

A second Sakai in the north

Hiroki Sakai is no relation to Gotoku, except that he too is happiest on the right side of defense. The 23-year-old graduated from Japan's U23 team last year and has seven caps to his name. He's still on the fringes of the senior set up, as is the case at club level. Worryingly for a defender, Sakai was subbed out in five of his 13 Bundesliga appearances with Hannover this season.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

One is Akpala's magic - surely hated - number

Striker Joseph Akpala has one goal for Nigeria and one for Werder Bremen; he'd surely prefer more. In his defense, it's hard to hit the net when all you get are junk minutes as a substitute for poacher Nils Petersen at Bremen. Akpala was a goal machine with Nigeria's U23 outfit, bagging 10 in 23 appearances, but with the senior side his tally is still sparse. Perhaps he can change that in Brazil.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Loaned down a league to find his feet

Youngster Anthony Ujah is contracted to Bundesliga club Mainz, but he spent the season downstream in another city on the river Rhine, Cologne. The 22-year-old Nigerian bagged 13 goals, holding up his part of the bargain in Cologne's unsuccessful hunt for promotion. The side was on fire for most of the season, but an ignominious beginning and end to the campaign muddied the waters.

Bundesliga stars at the Confederations Cup

Hajime Hosogai, victim of his own success?

Midfield anchor man Hajime Hosogai, 26, is good enough to catch Bayer Leverkusen's eye, but not exceptional enough to break into the Bundesliga's clear third power. It's a hard life battling Germans Lars Bender, Simon Rolfes and Gonzalo Castro for a midfield berth - if you don't believe us, just ask Germany's former captain Michael Ballack. That competition was so stiff that it ended his career.

Author: Mark Hallam | Editor : Matt Zuvela