On Thursday 16 March, Vahid HALILHODZIC, coach of SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team), announced his roster for the upcoming two matches against UAE and Thailand as part of the resuming 2018 FIFA World Cup Final Asian Qualifiers later this month. Including midfielders TAKAHAGI Yojiro (F.C.Tokyo) and KONNO Yasuyuki (Gamba Osaka), the 25-man squad will face United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday 23 in Al Ain and Thailand on Tuesday 28 at Saitama Stadium 2002.

Takahagi, who comes back to the national team for the first time since the EAFF East Asian Cup 2013 and under the reign of Halilhodzic, Konno, who has been away from the team since March, 2015 and also midfielder KURATA Shu (Gamba Osaka) rejoin the squad listing familiar faces such as midfielders HASEBE Makoto (Eintracht Frankfurt) and KAGAWA Shinji (Borussia Dortmund) and forward HONDA Keisuke (AC Milan) as well.

In addition, the national team welcomes forwards KUBO Yuya who scored five goals in three matches following his transfer to KAA Gent in Belgium, USAMI Takashi (FC Augsburg) who Halilhodzic considers as a player who “can singlehandedly make a difference” and HARAGUCHI Genki (Hertha BSC Berlin) who is on his four-match streak of scoring for the national team.....

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