Japan coach Zico said Tuesday he will submit the 23-man World Cup finals roster to the Japan Football Association on May 15.
"The 23 will be finalized after home friendlies (against Bulgaria on May 9 and Scotland on May 13), so those are the last chances to impress," said Zico, who looked healthy at a press conference two days after being hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis.
"I experienced the excellence of medical treatment in Japan. That tremendous pain disappeared instantly. People might think stress was the cause, but that's not it. I just ate something bad," Zico said.
Meanwhile, Japanese nationals playing in Europe are not scheduled to take part in the friendlies as European leagues are in the final stages of the seasons.
Zico, taking into account that most of them do not have playing time with their respective clubs, indicated that some might be called for the friendlies.