On the face of it, Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto's recent comments that he has no interest in playing for Japan should give national team supporters cause for concern.
Taken with a pinch of salt, however, it could be just the kind of independent attitude Takeshi Okada's side has been in need of for a very long time.
Morimoto, who has yet to appear for the national team, was reported as saying on local Sicilian TV station REI: "I don't want to play (for Japan). My style of play doesn't fit. I want to concentrate on playing for Catania."