Asian champion Japan will start its 2001 season with a training camp in mid-February and play its first friendly in Europe against world champion France in late March, the Japan Football Association announced Thursday in Tokyo.
Japan manager Philippe Troussier will invite 45 players to a weeklong training camp starting Feb. 18 at Fukushima's J. Village.
The French manager will then call up 28 players for a mini-camp March 12-13, before selecting a total of 22 members for the French tour, which is slated for March 20-26. The friendly against France is scheduled for March 24 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, near Paris. Japan is expected to play 12 to 16 international matches this year, which will include another away game against Spain in late April, the FIFA Confederations Cup in South Korea and Japan from May 30 to June 10, and the Kirin Cup starting June 27.
Kirin deal extended
The Japan Football Association agreed with Kirin Brewery Co. Ltd., Kirin Beverage Corp. and Kirin-Seagram Ltd. to extend their sponsorship deal for another six years beginning April 1, the JFA and the three companies announced Thursday in Tokyo.