NAGOYA (Kyodo) Japan goalkeeper Seigo Narazaki will miss the national team's upcoming friendlies in the Netherlands after his club Nagoya Grampus said Tuesday he has suffered a broken finger.
The 33-year-old Narazaki on Monday underwent surgery on a broken bone in his left index finger sustained in Nagoya's 3-2 win over Gamba Osaka in the J. League last weekend, and will be sidelined for 10 weeks.
Narazaki, who had a spell on the sidelines last fall with an ankle injury, has been between the posts in all 23 of Nagoya's league matches this season and played a key role in helping Japan qualify for next year's World Cup finals in South Africa.
Japan coach Takeshi Okada on Friday will name his squad for the trip to the Netherlands, where the Blue Samurai will take on the Dutch national side on Sept. 5 and Ghana four days later.