Maki the surprise pick in Japan's World Cup squad | 日本のニュースを英語で読むならジャパンタイムズウィークリー


	UPDATE: Saturday, June 12, 2010 The Japan Times Weekly 2006年5月20日号（バックナンバー）

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Maki the surprise pick in Japan's World Cup squad

JEF United Chiba striker Seiichiro Maki earned a surprise World Cup call-up at the expense of Tatsuhiko Kubo as Japan coach Zico on May 15 named his 23-man squad for next month's World Cup finals in Germany.

Japan coach Zico at a news conference in Tokyo on May 15.

Maki was the only surprise inclusion as the Brazilian picked a squad packed with experienced players plying their trade in Europe, including the British-based midfield trio of Hidetoshi Nakata (Bolton Wanderers), Junichi Inamoto (West Bromwich Albion) and Shunsuke Nakamura (Celtic).

Maki, 25, was given the nod ahead of Kubo, who misses out on the World Cup for the second time after struggling to regain fitness since returning from a lower back problem and a spate of other injuries.

Japan has been drawn in the tough first-round Group F in Germany, where it will face Australia, Croatia and holders Brazil.

The Asian champions open their campaign against the Socceroos in Kaiserslautern on June 12.

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