TOKYO (AFP) - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni called up teen sensation Takashi Usami on Friday for the Kirin Cup tournament in a squad featuring three newcomers ahead of autumn's crucial World Cup campaign.
The 19-year-old forward, widely regarded as Japan's brightest prospect, made his professional debut for Gamba Osaka aged just 17 and scored in the match to become the youngest player to achieve both feats for the club.
Kashima Antlers midfielder Daigo Nishi and Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Kosei Shibasaki are the other debutants in the squad for next month's triangular contest, which pits the Blue Samurai against the Czech Republic and Peru.
"Usami has played very well since last season. He has good quality," Zaccheroni told reporters.
"Nishi was excellent last season and Shibasaki has played very well for his club. The most important thing for the top national team is the future, not the past."
Zaccheroni left out veteran Nagoya Grampus defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yokohama Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa, who will both be in contention for the World Cup qualifiers, saying he already knows what they can do.
The Italian named a 25-strong squad for the Kirin Cup, which is played every year in Japan and is being seen this time as valuable preparation for World Cup qualifying.
Also included are 11 Europe-based players led by CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki, Mallorca's Akihiro Ienaga, Augsburg's Hajime Hosogai and Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe.
They will be joined by Inter Milan's Yuto Nagatomo, Koln's Tomoaki Makino, Vitesse's Michihiro Yasuda, Schalke's Atsuto Uchida, Venlo's Maya Yoshida and Lierse goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
"We will have only three games before the start of the World Cup qualification tournament in September, so these two games are very important for us," said Zaccheroni.
"Of course, our goal is to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Results are important but it is more important to improve the team. I called up three new players. I want to know their potential."
Japan will play Peru on June 1 in Niigata and the Czech Republic on June 7 in Yokohama, while Peru and the Czech Republic will meet on June 4 in Matsumoto.
"Peru always play 100 percent, while the Czech Republic are good at using the field effectively. I hope Japan can improve by playing these two different styles of football," said the Italian.
Other notable players included Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Tadanari Lee, who scored the only goal to help Japan beat Australia in the Asian Cup final in January.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK/BEL), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Albirex Niigata), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Defenders: Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama Marinos), Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan /ITA), Tomoaki Makino (1FC Koln/GER), Michihiro Yasuda (SBV Vitesse Arnhem/NED), Atsuto Uchida (FC Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo/NED)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/GER), Kosei Shibasaki (Kawasaki Frontale), Ryota Moriwaki (Hiroshima), Hajime Hosogai (FC Augsburg/GER), Akihiro Ienaga (RCD Mallorca/ESP), Daigo Nishi (Kashima)
Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Hiroshima), Kunimitsu Sekiguchi (Vegalta Sendai), Shinji Okazaki (VfB Stuttgart/GER), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Shinzo Korogi (Kashima), Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka)
The 19-year-old forward, widely regarded as Japan's brightest prospect, made his professional debut for Gamba Osaka aged just 17 and scored in the match to become the youngest player to achieve both feats for the club.
Kashima Antlers midfielder Daigo Nishi and Kawasaki Frontale midfielder Kosei Shibasaki are the other debutants in the squad for next month's triangular contest, which pits the Blue Samurai against the Czech Republic and Peru.
"Usami has played very well since last season. He has good quality," Zaccheroni told reporters.
"Nishi was excellent last season and Shibasaki has played very well for his club. The most important thing for the top national team is the future, not the past."
Zaccheroni left out veteran Nagoya Grampus defender Marcus Tulio Tanaka and Yokohama Marinos defender Yuji Nakazawa, who will both be in contention for the World Cup qualifiers, saying he already knows what they can do.
The Italian named a 25-strong squad for the Kirin Cup, which is played every year in Japan and is being seen this time as valuable preparation for World Cup qualifying.
Also included are 11 Europe-based players led by CSKA Moscow's Keisuke Honda, Stuttgart's Shinji Okazaki, Mallorca's Akihiro Ienaga, Augsburg's Hajime Hosogai and Wolfsburg's Makoto Hasebe.
They will be joined by Inter Milan's Yuto Nagatomo, Koln's Tomoaki Makino, Vitesse's Michihiro Yasuda, Schalke's Atsuto Uchida, Venlo's Maya Yoshida and Lierse goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima.
"We will have only three games before the start of the World Cup qualification tournament in September, so these two games are very important for us," said Zaccheroni.
"Of course, our goal is to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. Results are important but it is more important to improve the team. I called up three new players. I want to know their potential."
Japan will play Peru on June 1 in Niigata and the Czech Republic on June 7 in Yokohama, while Peru and the Czech Republic will meet on June 4 in Matsumoto.
"Peru always play 100 percent, while the Czech Republic are good at using the field effectively. I hope Japan can improve by playing these two different styles of football," said the Italian.
Other notable players included Gamba Osaka midfielder Yasuhito Endo, and Sanfrecce Hiroshima forward Tadanari Lee, who scored the only goal to help Japan beat Australia in the Asian Cup final in January.
Squad:
Goalkeepers: Eiji Kawashima (Lierse SK/BEL), Masaaki Higashiguchi (Albirex Niigata), Shusaku Nishikawa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima)
Defenders: Yasuyuki Konno (FC Tokyo), Yuzo Kurihara (Yokohama Marinos), Masahiko Inoha (Kashima Antlers), Yuto Nagatomo (Inter Milan /ITA), Tomoaki Makino (1FC Koln/GER), Michihiro Yasuda (SBV Vitesse Arnhem/NED), Atsuto Uchida (FC Schalke/GER), Maya Yoshida (VVV Venlo/NED)
Midfielders: Yasuhito Endo (Gamba Osaka), Makoto Hasebe (Wolfsburg/GER), Kosei Shibasaki (Kawasaki Frontale), Ryota Moriwaki (Hiroshima), Hajime Hosogai (FC Augsburg/GER), Akihiro Ienaga (RCD Mallorca/ESP), Daigo Nishi (Kashima)
Forwards: Ryoichi Maeda (Jubilo Iwata), Tadanari Lee (Hiroshima), Kunimitsu Sekiguchi (Vegalta Sendai), Shinji Okazaki (VfB Stuttgart/GER), Keisuke Honda (CSKA Moscow/RUS), Shinzo Korogi (Kashima), Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka)
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