Naohiro Takahara, Keita Suzuki and Yuji Nakazawa will skip Japan's training camp for the upcoming Kirin Cup matches against Ivory Coast and Paraguay because of fitness problems, the Japan Football Association said Monday. Urawa Reds midfielder Suzuki is unwell while striker and club teammate Takahara is struggling with a sore knee.
Yokohama F. Marinos stopper Nakazawa is sitting out the three-day get together starting Monday with a thigh strain picked up in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Shimizu S-Pulse.
The May 22-27 Kirin Cup tournament is serving as a warmup for Japan for its next World Cup qualifier at home against Oman on June 2.