New Japan coach Ivica Osim looks set to snub Celtic midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura and other European-based players for next month's Asian Cup qualifiers away to Saudi Arabia and Yemen.
Japan Football Association technical director Takeshi Ono on Monday said Osim has not yet asked for the release of the likes of Nakamura and French-based midfielder Daisuke Matsui, fueling speculation that he will take a squad of J. Leaguers for the Group A matches on Sept. 3 and 6. Ono noted that clubs are generally asked two weeks before international matches to make players available but said, "It's up to the coach who he selects."
JFA chief Saburo Kawabuchi had not expected Osim to pick European-based players for the trip to the Middle East, even though their clubs are obliged to release them as the matches fall on days marked for internationals on the calendar set by soccer's world governing body, FIFA.