Japan's quarter-final win against Australia making two saves from Harry Kewell and Lucas Neill in the penalty shootout, thus making him the Man of the Match. In August 2006, it was revealed that he would wear the captain's armband, as new Japan manager Ivica Osim believed that former captain Tsuneyasu Miyamoto was not getting enough playing time at his domestic club, Gamba Osaka. Marginal role (2008–2010) Kawaguchi is his country's most-capped goalkeeper and overall third most-capped player with 116 caps for Japan, six behind second-placed Masami Ihara with 122 caps, but an injury in 2008 had since sidelined him from action. Long-time rival Seigo Narazaki had since been playing as first-choice keeper for Japan. A broken leg sustained in a J1 League clash against Kyoto Sanga FC appeared to have sidelined him for the rest of the season thus ruling him out of the 2010 World Cup. However, after making a full and quick recovery Japanese head coach Takeshi Okada decided to include him in the final squad announced on 10 May 2010. Kawaguchi was one of two Japanese players (the other being Seigo Narazaki) to be named for their national team's 4th consecutive World Cup. Despite his period of inactivity and having fallen to third in the pecking order, Okada selected him in the hope that his leadership and experience would aid the team's progress. Kawaguchi was appointed captain of the national team during team training on 21 May 2010. Kawaguchi was not picked to play for the national team under coach Alberto Zaccheroni, and with youngster Eiji Kawashima impressing in Japan's 2011 Asian Cup success, the Fuji-shi born custodian's international career was effectively over. Career statistics Club International Honours Yokohama F. Marinos J1 League: 1995, 2000 Portsmouth Football League First Division: 2002–03 Japan AFC Asian Cup: 2000, 2004 AFC-OFC Challenge Cup: 2001 Afro-Asian Cup of Nations: 2007 Individual J.League Rookie of the Year: 1995 The Best 11: 2001 AFC Best Player of the Month: June 2001 Asian Cup All-Star Team: 2004 J.League Best XI: 2006 J.League Fair Play Award: 2008 J.League 20th Anniversary Team See also List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps References External links Japan National Football Team Database Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi at SC Sagamihara 1975 births Living people Association football people from Shizuoka Prefecture Japanese footballers Japan international footballers J1 League players J2 League players J3 League players English Football League players Danish