Inter's Nagatomo recalled for Japan qualifier

29 September 2011 14:35

Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni on Thursday recalled Inter Milan defender Yuto Nagatomo after an injury lay-off for the nation's upcoming home World Cup qualifier against Tajikistan.

But the coach had to drop another key full-back, Schalke's Atsuto Uchida, due to a fresh injury while star playmaker, CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, remains sidelined having missed the two previous qualifiers with a knee injury.

"Of course, Honda is an important player. But we didn't even have Nagatomo against North Korea and Uzbekistan. We will manage to find a good balance," Zaccheroni said.

"It is my job to get the best out of the players available."

Without Honda, who powered Japan to the last 16 at last year's World Cup and a record fourth Asian Cup title in January, the Blue Samurai have lack inspiration -- beating North Korea 1-0 and drawing with Uzbekistan 1-1 away.

Zaccheroni's latest 23-strong squad for the October 11 tie was otherwise devoid of surprises and included ten European-based players. The side will warm-up with a home friendly against Vietnam on October 7.

"I am very satisfied with our performances in the last three games," the Italian coach said of Japan's comfortable 3-0 home win over South Korea in August.

"Nagatomo missed all the three matches but the players that came in did a good job," said Zaccheroni.

Nagatomo suffered a dislocated right shoulder at the end of July in Inter's preseason friendly against Celtic in Dublin.

Honda is recovering from surgery on the right knee and Uchida strained thigh muscles in training on Tuesday.

Tajikistan have lost both of their Group C qualifiers 1-0 to Uzbekistan and North Korea. Japan and Uzbekistan are level at four points in the group, followed by North Korea at three.

Squad:

Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK/BEL), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)

Defenders: Yuichi Komano (Jubilo Iwata), Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama Marinos), Masahiko Inoha (Hajduk Split/CRO), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan/ITA), Tomoaki Makino (FC Cologne/GER), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo/NED)

Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Kengo Nakamura (Kawasaki Frontale), Yuki Abe (Leicester City/ENG), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/GER), Chikashi Masuda (Kashima Antlers), Hajime Hosogai (Augsburg/GER)

Forwards: Jungo Fujimoto (Nagoya Grampus), Tadanari Lee (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Shinji Okazaki (Stuttgart/GER), Mike Havenaar (Ventforet Kofu), Shinji Kagawa (Borussia Dortmund/GER), Hiroshi Kiyotake (Cerezo Osaka), Genki Haraguchi (Urawa Reds)

Source: AFP