Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic says goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima will not play in the World Cup qualifiers against Afghanistan and Syria. He probably will not even be on the bench.
But Kawashima, knowing he has a lot of catching up to do, is not about to argue.
"Obviously there's a lot I feel about the team," Kawashima said on the eve of Thursday's game against Afghanistan, a side Japan thrashed 6-0 away in September. "If and when I step out on to the pitch, I just have to show what kind of player I am."