Ahead of the clash against Syria (on 8th in Muscat, Oman) in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia Asian Qualifiers Round 2, combined with the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Qualifiers and an international friendly against Iran (on 13th in Teheran, Iran), SAMURAI BLUE (Japan National Team) coach Vahid HALILHODZIC announced his 23-man squad including midfielder KAGAWA Shinji (Borussia Dortmund) and 20-year-old striker MINAMINO Takumi (Salzburg).
Minamino and defender SHIOTANI Tsukasa (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) got their first chance to have a spot on the squad for potentially playing a senior team's match under Halilhodzic. While Minamino takes part in the national team activity for the first time since the shortlist camp in April last year, Shiotani joins the team for the first time since the AFC Asian Cup campaign last January.....