Japan manager Vahid Halilhodzic on Thursday shot back at critics who accuse him of making excuses for his team's poor start to its World Cup final qualifying campaign as he named a 26-strong squad for next month's games against Iraq and Australia.
Japan lost at home to the United Arab Emirates earlier this month and while it beat Thailand to slightly right the ship, the unexpected defeat has left it third in the group behind Australia, which it will face on Oct. 11, and Saudi Arabia.
As Halilhodzic went at length to explain his selection, which included one first-time call-up in Kashima Antlers midfielder Ryota Nagaki, a reporter said the Bosnian was making excuses in blaming the tight schedule and long flights from Europe during the international window as reasons that made his job difficult.