NEWS

Thirteen new players were included in Japan’s squad to play Yemen in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier in Sana’a on January 6.

The newcomers include Nagoya Grampus defender Maya Yoshida, Kashima Antlers’ first-year forward Yuya Osako and Yokohama F. Marinos striker Kazuma Watanabe – whose 13 goals last season was the highest total ever by a J. League rookie.
The 19-member squad also includes two college players: midfielder Kazuya Yamamura of Ryutsu Keizai University and forward Kensuke Nagai of Fukuoka University. They are the first college players gathered to the national team since 1991, although a college player was called up to a training session for the candidates after that.
The Japanese players will get together for a short training session before flying to Yemen.
The match is to kick off at 16:15 local time on January 6.

Squad:
Goalkeepers—Shusaku Nishikawa (Oita Trinita), Shuichi Gonda (FC Tokyo)
Defenders—Naoya Kikuchi (Oita Trinita), Tomoaki Makino (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Kosuke Ota (Shimizu S-Pulse), Maya Yoshida (Nagoya Grampus), Taisuke Muramatsu (Shonan Bellmare), Gotoku Sakai (Albirex Niigata)
Midfielders—Yosuke Kashiwagi (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Takashi Inui (Cerezo Osaka), Mu Kanazaki (Oita Trinita), Takuya Aoki (Omiya Ardija), Kazuya Yamamura (Ryutsu Keizai University), Naoki Yamada (Urawa Reds), Takuji Yonemoto (FC Tokyo)
Forwards—Sota Hirayama (FC Tokyo), Kazuma Watanabe (Yokohama F. Marinos), Kensuke Nagai (Fukuoka University), Yuya Osako (Kashima Antlers)
Coach—Takeshi Okada