Mellowing with age was never likely for Japan¡¯s 39-year-old Yuto Nagatomo, who is as irrepressible as ever as he prepares for his fifth World Cup ¡ª?an Asian record.
The left back may not be able to get around the pitch as quickly as he could during his Inter Milan heyday, but his relentless enthusiasm could be Japan¡¯s secret weapon in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Nagatomo is the team¡¯s motivator-in-chief, leading jogs around the training pitch, pumping up his teammates and dispensing wisdom earned from 144 appearances for his country.
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