Japan coach rethinks after Scotland withdrawals

Last-minute withdrawals from Scotland’s squad for a friendly against Japan on Saturday have forced coach Takeshi Okada into a rethink as he tries to hone his team selection for next year’s World Cup.

“I had been racking my brains but now I have to think it over again,” he told reporters about his team line-up on the eve of their Asian Cup qualifier against unfancied Hong Kong at home on Thursday.

A Japan Football Association executive reportedly fumed over the Scottish withdrawals. “They had promised to send their best players!” he was quoted as saying by the Sports Hochi daily.

Okada plans to use the Asian Cup qualifier and two home friendlies against Scotland and Togo in the space of a week as a chance to raise Japan’s level “one step higher” ahead of South Africa 2010.

Manchester United midfielder Darren Fletcher and Tottenham fullback Alan Hutton withdrew just hours before the Scotland squad was due to fly out on Wednesday for the friendly in Yokohama.

Okada, who is targeting a semi-final World Cup spot, was expected to field his top players against a full-strength Scotland, who have failed to qualify for South Africa.

The number of withdrawals since Scotland manager George Burley announced his squad last week has risen to 10 — including Scott Brown, Shaun Maloney, Danny Fox, Kevin Thomson, Steven Naismith, Robert Snodgrass, Garry O’Connor and Scott Robertson.

Okada’s squad for the three-match series includes six Europe-based players led by Espanyol midfielder Shunsuke Nakamura.

Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto will make his international debut after the 21-year-old pulled out of Japan’s tour of the Netherlands last month due to injury.

He has already scored three goals for the Serie A side this season, boosting Japan’s hopes of remedying their perennial lack of firepower.

“Morimoto is red hot in scoring goals and getting to crosses. He is quick to move in front of goal and get behind defenders,” Okada said of the crew-cut striker.

Nakamura, a set-piece maestro who moved to Espanyol from Celtic in June, said Japan had exposed their inaccuracy in crossing during the two-match Dutch tour.

The former Asian champions were beaten 3-0 by the Netherlands but rallied from behind to defeat Ghana 4-3.

“We are beginning to see how we will improve the quality of crosses,” Nakamura said after the team practised crossing the ball fast and low toward surging strikers.