Japan strikers are a delicate bunch. Atsushi Yanagisawa went down with "Beirut Belly" during the Asian Cup in 2000 and has not touched a kebab since.
More recently, Boca Juniors reject Naohiro Takahara developed an icky blood clot and Bolton Wanderers misfit Akinori Nishizawa was rushed to a Madrid hospital to have his appendix out. Both players now have little hope of playing in the World Cup.
Unless you have been living under a rock, or are more concerned with how the Hanshin Tigers are doing this season (which is more or less the same thing), you will know that Japan coach Philippe Troussier names his final 23-man World Cup squad on Friday.
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