Japan midfielder Hotaru Yamaguchi remains doubtful and could force coach Vahid Halilhodzic into further tinkering for the World Cup qualifier against Iraq on Tuesday, when a win would massively boost the chance of a finals appearance in a year's time in Russia.
"This is the most important game. We need valiant players with real strong determination," Halilhodzic told a press conference on Monday, aware that a win will lift Japan three points above rivals Saudi Arabia and Australia with two games to go in Group B.
But he might not be able to call upon lynchpin Yamaguchi, who scored the last-gasp winner against Iraq when Japan scraped out all three points with a 2-1 home win in October.