Japan's third-string players are forcing their way into World Cup contention with their performances at the E-1 Football Championship, according to manager Vahid Halilhodzic.
"I think these players are serious candidates to play for the full-strength national team," Halilhodzic said after Japan beat China 2-1 on Tuesday night for its second win in two games at the ongoing regional tournament, following an opening 1-0 victory over North Korea.
"If you think about the group, the mentality was exceptional and that was what gave us this result," he said. "In the first game, there were times where we panicked or were too anxious. But I told them to be positive because the reason they are in the squad is because they are good players. I'm not asking them to do things that they can't do."