Zaccheroni names strong Japan squad for Argentina friendly
Alberto Zaccheroni has named a strong 25-man squad for the international friendly with Argentina in a week’s time.
The Blue Samurai meet Sergio Batista’s La Albiceleste in Saitama on October 8 and Zaccheroni has added nine European-based stars including CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda, Borussia Dotmund’s in-form striker Shinji Kagawa and recent Leicester City signing Yuki Abe.
The Italian tactician understands the importance of taking on a strong Argentina outfit so wanted to include the best players available.
"You don't need me to tell you about the quality of players Argentina has," Zaccheroni said. "We must respect them but we have nothing to be afraid of,” he said.
Japan squad for Argentina friendly – October 8 in Saitama
Goalkeepers
Eiji Kawashima (Lierse, Belgium)
Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)
Defenders
Marcus Tulio Tanaka (Nagoya Grampus)
Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata)
Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama F Marinos)
Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers)
Yuto Nagatomo (Cesena, Italy)
Tomokai Makino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Atsuto Uchida (Schalke 04, Germany)
Midfielders
Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka)
Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale)
Yuki Abe (Leicester City, England)
Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo)
Makoto Hasebe (VfL Wolfsburg, Germany)
Takuya Honda (Shimizu S-Pulse)
Hajime Hosogai (Urawa Reds)
Forwards
Daisuke Matsui (Tom Tomsk, Russia)
Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata)
Kunimitsu Sekiguchi (Vegalta Sendai)
Shinji Okazaki (Shimizu S-Pulse)
Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow, Russia)
Takayuki Morimoto (Catania, Italy)
Mu Kanazaki (Nagoya Grampus)
Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund, Germany)
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