Keiji Tamada and Tatsuhiko Kubo renew old acquaintances as strike partners for Japan on Thursday in a friendly against Ecuador, with national team boss Zico confident the spark is still there between the two.
Japan midfielder Shinji Ono controls the ball as Makoto
Hasebe looks on during their training session in Oita.
"Tamada and Kubo played together on the tour of Europe two years ago and I think they will both take responsibility and make the most of their chances," Zico told reporters at a news conference in Oita before the international against a fellow World Cup finalist.