Japan announces squad for Kirin Cup

Tokyo:

Japan coach Zico on Tuesday announced his soccer squad for next week's Kirin Cup tournament. He also expressed hope that injured striker Atsushi Yanagisawa will be available for next month's World Cup finals in Germany. Yanagisawa, who wasn't named to the 23-man Kirin Cup squad, is close to making a comeback after breaking a bone in his right foot in March. "I have been told Yanagisawa is making good progress,'' Zico said after announcing his players for the May 9-13 Kirin Cup. 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, who will not have his European-based players available for the Kirin Cup, is likely to name Yanagisawa to his World Cup squad on May 15. In their final tuneup matches, Japan will play Germany in Leverkusen on May 30 and Malta in Dusseldorf on June 4. Japan, making its third straight World Cup appearance, is in Group F along with defending champion Brazil, Croatia and Australia. 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).