Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni plans to call up 18 Europe-based players for this month's World Cup qualifying warm-up at home to Azerbaijan in a bid to arrest a recent slide in form.
The Italian wanted to include the likes of playmaker Shinji Kagawa, fresh from helping Borussia Dortmund capture a second straight Bundesliga title, for the May 23 friendly, local media said on May 10.
CSKA Moscow midfielder Keisuke Honda, Inter Milan's Yuto Nagatomo and captain Makoto Hasebe are also among those whose clubs have been asked to release them for the game in Shizuoka.
Japan face Oman on June 3 and Jordan on June 8 in Saitama before tackling fierce rivals Australia away four days later in the final round of 2014 World Cup qualifiers.
Their form has dipped with two defeats in their last three games following an unbeaten run of 16 matches since Zaccheroni took charge and a big win over Azerbaijan could provide a timely confidence boost for the Asian champions.
Zaccheroni is taking no chances in his preparations for three huge games in the space of 10 days next month, aware that any slip-up could cost Japan a place at the finals in Brazil.
"I have spoken to Wolfsburg coach (Felix) Magath about Hasebe," Japan Football Association (JFA) technical director Hiromi Hara told the Nikkan Sports newspaper.
"He has told us he will release the player in the best possible condition before the final round of World Cup qualifiers."
Japan have played at every World Cup since their first appearance at the 1998 tournament in France, reaching the last 16 as co-hosts in 2002 and at the 2010 finals in South Africa.
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