Japan supporters will be looking to the goalscoring ability of Shinji Okazaki when the Samurai Blue open third round qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ at the start of September against United Arab Emirates.

The 30-year-old ace-striker is now in his prime, scoring regularly for both club and country. Okazaki netted five times in 36 appearances as Leicester City won the English Premier League in stunning fashion last season. By doing so, he became only the second Japanese player to achieve such a feat after Shinji Kagawa with Manchester United in the 2012/13 season. His international form proved similarly impressive, too, having racked up four goals as Japan won the group in the second qualifying round for Russia 2018.

With continental qualifying commencing in September, FIFA.com caught up with the former Stuttgart marksman to hear about his feats with Leicester City, and Japan's prospects of qualifying from a World Cup group which also features Australia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Thailand.

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