Leicester’s Okazaki targets third World Cup with Japan

Leicester City forward Shinji Okazaki is determined to qualify for his third World Cup after reaching 50 goals for Japan on Tuesday night.

Okazaki reached the landmark for his country with a diving header in their 4-0 win over Thailand, his 108th appearance for Japan.

Only Manchester United strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Wayne Rooney, of current Premier League players, have scored more goals at international level.

The Japanese striker was a key part of the Foxes squad that won the Premier League title last year by supporting strike partner Jamie Vardy and contributing five goals.

(Photo by Atsushi Tomura/Getty Images)

And he’s only found the back of the net on two league occasions so far this term as City have struggled in the lower half of the table.

But the 30-year-old, who was part of the Japan squads at the 2010 and 2014 World Cups, insists he isn’t finished at international level just yet.

“I’m incredibly happy to get that goal,” he said. “I hadn’t scored for a while so it was a relief. Hopefully I can keep on scoring goals for Japan.”

“We’re not at the World Cup yet. We have to make sure we keep taking our chances and win our remaining games.”