Japan squad for Kirin Cup announced

Japan coach Zico has announced his soccer squad for next week’s Kirin Cup tournament.

Japan plays Bulgaria in Osaka on May 9 and Scotland in Saitama four days later. Scotland plays Bulgaria play on May 11 in Kobe.

Zico will use the Kirin cup tournament to have another look at the home-based players and will not have any of his European-based players available.

However, Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa, wasn’t named to the 23-man Kirin Cup squad, but is close to making a comeback after breaking a bone in his right foot in March.

The striker should make the squad for the World Cup to be annouced on May 15 according to coach Zico.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Yoichi Doi (FC Tokyo), Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi (Jubilo Iwata), Seigo Narazaki (Nagoya Grampus Eight).

Defenders: Makoto Tanaka (Jubilo Iwata), Tsuneyasu Miyamoto (Gamba Osaka), Alessandro Santos (Urawa Reds), Yuji Nakazawa (Yokohama F Marinos), Keisuke Tsuboi (Urawa Reds), Shinji Murai (Jubilo Iwata), Akira Kaji (Gamba Osaka), Yuichi Komano (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Teruyuki Moniwa (FC Tokyo).

Midfielders: Takashi Fukunishi (Jubilo Iwata), Mitsuo Ogasawara (Kashima Antlers), Masashi Motoyama (Kashima Antlers), Shinji Ono (Urawa Reds), Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Yuki Abe (JEF United Chiba), Makoto Hasebe (Urawa Reds).

Forwards: Tatsuhiko Kubo (Yokohama F Marinos), Keiji Tamada (Nagoya Grampus Eight), Seiichiro Maki (JEF United Chiba), Hisato Sato (Sanfrecce Hiroshima).