OSAKA -- Taking advantage of the absence of injured and European-based players, Japan coach Philippe Troussier plans to test out new players in Thursday's friendly against Ukraine, the first of eight warmups ahead of the World Cup.
"I didn't call up the overseas-based players and we have many injured players, but we have a good, solid national team here," Troussier said Wednesday in a pre-match news conference at Nagai Stadium.
"It's a good opportunity for the manager to see some new players and it's also a big chance for the players to make an appeal."