Japan squad for Kirin Cup announced

May 2nd, 2006 | by: ShiLou |

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).

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http://www.worldcupblog.org/world-cup-2006/metatarsalwatche284a2-yanagisawa-and-vukic-on-the-mend.html Metatarsalwatch™: Yanagisawa and Vukic on the Mend – FIFA World Cup 2006 – World Cup 2006 Blog

[...] The news is not all bad in the world of podiatry. While Wayne Rooney is locked away in an oxygen tent hoping to magically heal in time for the World Cup, a couple of other metatarsally-challenged players are making a final push for Germany. Japan striker Atsushi Yanagisawa broke his foot in March and according to his coach Zico he is on his way to recovering in time for the World Cup. Meanwhile, Serbia and Montenegro midfielder Zvonimir Vukic will be back in action on Wednesday after recovering from a foot fracture of his own. This is very welcome news for Plavi fans. [...]