By Associated Press

Published: 07:30 GMT, 15 March 2018 | Updated: 07:35 GMT, 15 March 2018

TOKYO (AP) – Keisuke Honda was among 26 players named on Thursday by Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic for two friendlies against Mali and Ukraine at the end of March.

Honda, who hasn’t played for Japan since September’s World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia, has four goals in 11 games for Mexican side Pachuca this season.

Japan takes on Mali on March 23 and Ukraine on March 27. Both games will be held at Stade Maurice Dufrasne in Liege, Belgium.

Japan will face Colombia, Senegal and Poland in the group stage of the World Cup. Halilhodzic hopes to simulate those matches in Group H by taking on teams with similar playing styles in the upcoming friendlies in Belgium.

A preliminary World Cup squad of 35 will be named by May 14, with the final 23 to be announced by June 4.

Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.



Read more at DailyMail.co.uk