SAMURAI BLUE head coach Javier Aguirre announced his squad for their matches against Jamaica in the 2014 Kirin Challenge Cup played in Niigata next Friday and against Brazil in an international friendly in Singapore on 14th September. The Mexican picked up 23 members, including Kawasaki Frontale forward KOBAYASHI Yu, Kashima Antlers defender SHOJI Gen and Sanfrecce Hiroshima defender SHIOTANI Tsukasa, who have been selected for the first time.

Aguirre replaced eight players from his previous pair of games. Dortmund midfielder KAGAWA Shinji and FC Tokyo goalkeeper GONDA Shuichi were called up for the first time since the FIFA World Cup, while Cordoba forward Havenar Mike, Kashima defender NISHI Daigo and FC Tokyo defender OTA Kosuke will wear the national team jerseys after a while.
"I’ve kept visiting J. League matches, and have chosen players that have contributed to their teams and ones who have maintained their performance regardless of their clubs’ outcomes." Aguirre said. "I would like to see if they can put up the same performance they are showing in the J. League in these two games."

Meanwhile, familar faces, such as AC Milan forward HONDA Keisuke, FSV Mainz forward OKAZAKI Shinji, Inter Milan defender NAGATOMO Yuto, plus others like Hertha midfielder HOGOGAI Hajime, FC Tokyo midfielder MORISHIGE Masato and FC Tokyo forward MUTO Yoshinori, who scored a goal in his national team debut match last month, have also been selected.
The national squad holds a training camp and play with Jamaica in Niigata next week, and then move to Singapore to prepare for the Brazil game.

"Once the World Cup qualifier begins, we are going to have to play in this way, so it’ll be good simulation for us." Aguirre said. "We go somewhere adn play against one of the world’s best in Brazil, it’s going to develop the Japan national team as well."
Asked about Jamaica, Aguirre said, "I know them very well, yet I want my team to stick to playing their own game. It’s going to be a difficult game, but with supports from the supporters on our back, we can expect a win."
Aguirre also referred to the Brazil game: "They’ve already won a couple with their new coach. It’s not going to be an easy game for us, but we want to overcome the adversity."

Comments

Javier AGUIRRE, Head Coach
We are going to play one game at home and one away. Once the World Cup qualifier begins, we are going to have to play in this way, so it will be a good simulation. We’ve called up some new players who have done well in the J. League. They are all regular players on their respective clubs. I would like to see if they can put up the same performance they are showing in the J. League in these two games.

SHIMODA Masahiro, JFA National Technical Director
As a part of our developmental process toward the AFC Asia Cup, I think that it will be good contests for us because we can play different types of games, judging different players. In the FIFA World Cup Asian qualifying, we are expected to play somes games inside the country and then directly head out to overseas, so we put this schedule with some travels as the simulations. It was partially coach Aguirre’s request to take on stronger teams, so it will be a good test. With the coach, we would like to work on developing the team. 

JFA-TV

KIRIN CHALLENGE CUP 2014

Friday, 10 October 2014   Kickoff at 19:25 (estimate time)
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) vs  Jamaica National Team
Niigata/DENKA BIG SWAN STADIUM
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International Friendly Match

Tuesday, 14 October 2014   Kickoff at 18:45 (local time)  19:45(Japan Time)
SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team)  vs   Brazil National Team
Singapore/The Singapore National Stadium
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