JEF United and 1998 World Cup defender Eisuke Nakanishi has been named to start against Argentina in the Nov. 20 friendly after winning a call-up for the first time since June 2000, Japan coach Zico announced Monday in Tokyo.
Joining the 20-man squad along with Nakanishi were uncapped Urawa Reds rookie Keisuke Tsuboi and Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo. Yokohama F. Marinos midfielder Yoshiharu Ueno returns to the squad for the first time since the King Hassan II Cup in June 2002.
Reggina midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and Genk forward Takayuki Suzuki will return to Japan for the game, following last month's friendly against Jamaica. But midfielders Shinji Ono of Feyenoord, Hidetoshi Nakata of Parma and Junichi Inamoto of Fulham were excluded from the squad due to club commitments.