Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni on Thursday said he wants to make the upcoming friendly with New Zealand an effective part of his side’s World Cup preparations.
　“It’s nice to be back with the national team for the first time since the November friendly,” said Zaccheroni. “For our World Cup preparation, this will be an important game.”
　The Japan boss said New Zealand were the right type of opposition to play to check his players’ fitness against a physically strong side.
　“New Zealand are the right opponents for us at this time with their strong physical ability,” the Italian noted. “The Europe-based players in our squad are halfway through their season, while our Japan-based players are just starting their season.
　“I want our players to recall how we work on the national team and what we have worked on over the last three and a half years.
　“Our preparation time is limited as our next game after this will be in May [against Cyprus on May 27]. I want to make the game against New Zealand effective for our World Cup preparations.”
　Included in the 23-member squad are Honda Keisuke of AC Milan, Nagatomo Yuto of Inter Milan, Kagawa Shinji of Manchester United and Okazaki Shinji of Mainz, as well as younger players Kakitani Yoichiro and his Cerezo Osaka teammate Yamaguchi Hotaru 
　Jubilo Iwata defender Komano Yuichi, Sanfrecce Hiroshima midfielder Aoyama Toshihiro and forward Kudo Masato of Kashiwa Reysol returned to the national team after a break, but Hasebe Makoto of Nurnberg and Uchida Atsuto of Shalke were not included due to their injuries.
　“No one has secured their place on our World Cup squad,” said Zaccheroni. “Our top athletes will go to the World Cup and I hope the players compete hard against each other to win their place on our team.
　“For those who were not called up this time, I hope they will work on their game more. I am expecting to have high quality in our players, which will raise the quality of our team.”
　The game will be the last Japan match to be played at the National Stadium before it is rebuilt for the 2020 Olympics.
　Zaccheroni said, “I know the stadium has long served as a symbol of Japanese football. This will be my first game at the National Stadium, but it will be nice if people can remember me as the last national team coach to play at the National Stadium.”
　 Later in the day, Zaccheroni welcomed the start of Japan official supplier adidas’s new project, the “Enjin Project,” which aims to help people combine support of their national team ahead of and at the World Cup.
　Enjin is when people make a circle while holding each other’s shoulders as players often do prior to the kickoff of a game. 
　Zaccheroni said, “I am happy with the concept of this project, and if many people gather to support us that will bring us big power. I hope many people can join this and form as large a circle as possible.”