Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has departed for his final European scouting trip ahead of next month's World Cup squad announcement, saying he will take a hard look at the players who are on the borderline.
This weekend, Zaccheroni, who will name his 23 for Brazil on May 12, is due to watch Hannover defender Hiroki Sakai and midfielder Hajime Hosogai at Hertha Berlin.
Zaccheroni on Wednesday wrapped up a three-day training camp for borderline players in the J.League.
"I'm going to check on the players who are on the fringe," Zaccheroni said at Haneda airport on Thursday. "I plan on speaking to them directly, too."
"There are 55 candidates right now. About half of them are attacking players," he added.
The Italian said he may not watch his starting XI like AC Milan's Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa of Manchester United this time around because he already knows what they bring to the team.
"I may go and see them in person, but even if I don't, I can get enough information on them through TV," the former Milan boss said.