Japan started their preparation for matches with Mongolia and Tajikistan in Saitama City this week. Aforementioned comes as the Japanese face Mongolia on Thursday at the Saitama Stadium 2002 before travelling to play Tajikistan on Tuesday.
Going for the win
The players began training on Monday with some such as Nakajima just taking part in a light training session. Meanwhile, Kubo returned to Japan to join up with the national side and took part too in the first session.
Coach Moriyasu hinted that he will go with his strongest side against Mongolia in their first home match of qualification.
Defenders Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray), Yoshida (Southampton), Sakai (Marseille), Ueda (Cercle Brugge), Anzai (Portimonense), Hatanaka (Yokohama M), Tomiyasu (Bologna)
Midfielders Haraguchi (Hannover), Shibasaki (Deportivo), Endo (Stuttgart), Ito (Genk), Hashimoto (FC Tokyo), Nakajima (FC Porto), Minamino (Salzburg), Itakura (FC Groningen), Doan (PSV Eindhoven), Kubo (Real Majorca)
Forwards Nagai (FC Tokyo), Asano (Partizan Belgrade), Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Coach Moriyasu hinted that he will go with his strongest side against Mongolia in their first home match of qualification.
Japan 23-man squad
Goalkeepers Eiji Kawashima (Strasbourg), Shūichi Gonda (Portimonense), Daniel Schmitt (Sint-Truiden)Defenders Yuto Nagatomo (Galatasaray), Yoshida (Southampton), Sakai (Marseille), Ueda (Cercle Brugge), Anzai (Portimonense), Hatanaka (Yokohama M), Tomiyasu (Bologna)
Midfielders Haraguchi (Hannover), Shibasaki (Deportivo), Endo (Stuttgart), Ito (Genk), Hashimoto (FC Tokyo), Nakajima (FC Porto), Minamino (Salzburg), Itakura (FC Groningen), Doan (PSV Eindhoven), Kubo (Real Majorca)
Forwards Nagai (FC Tokyo), Asano (Partizan Belgrade), Kamada (Eintracht Frankfurt)