Japan coach Takeshi Okada said Wednesday he will not call up defender Koji Nakata and midfielder Junichi Inamoto for the upcoming Kirin Cup friendlies and World Cup qualifiers.
Okada cited fitness problems for his decision to play without the two players in the Kirin Cup matches against the Ivory Coast on May 24 and Paraguay three days later as well as four World Cup qualifiers scheduled for June.
Okada said Nakata, who is set to rejoin J. League club Kashima Antlers from Switzerland's FC Basel, underwent surgery on his right knee last month and it is unlikely he will regain match fitness in time for the matches.