National team manager Alberto Zaccheroni has pledged to stick by his embattled defenders, insisting on Thursday he would not swap them for anyone else in the world.
Japan takes on friendly opponents Guatemala in Osaka on Sept. 6 and Ghana in Yokohama four days later, with the Asian champions looking to shore up at the back having conceded a glut of goals in recent games.
Japan allowed nine goals in three matches at the Confederations Cup in June before letting in four in a friendly against Uruguay earlier this month, but Zaccheroni is refusing to press the panic button and gave his defensive crew a vote of confidence as he named his 23-man squad on Thursday.