Shinji Ono has not given up hope of playing in his third World Cup finals despite being relegated to the bench as Japan's critical Group F opener against Australia looms.
Japan midfielder Shinji Ono (center) battles defender Yuji Nakazawa for the
ball while 'keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi watches during practice in Bonn on
Saturday ahead of the team's friendly with Germany on Tuesday.
Ono has rediscovered his fitness and form since returning from injury but is unlikely to feature in a five-man midfield scheduled to play against Guus Hiddink's Socceroos on June 12.
Takashi Fukunishi has earned the trust of Zico and made the holding role his own while Hidetoshi Nakata, Shunsuke Nakamura and wingers Alessandro Santos and Akira Kaji are virtual certainties to start in Kaiserslautern.