Hajime Moriyasu

Takumi Minamino among nine Europe-based players named in Japan squad for South Korea friendly

Minamino, who has scored two goals in six games since joining Southampton on loan from Liverpool in January, is part of a 23-man squad to take on the Koreans on 25 March in Japan's first home game since the coronavirus pandemic began.

Japan national football team to face South Korea in a friendly in first home game since pandemic

The four-time Asian champions will take on their Korean neighbours at the 72,000-capacity Nissan Stadium, although attendance restrictions have yet to be announced.

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu pleased with team's progress at tournament despite losing in final

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu was disappointed that his side missed out on a fifth Asian Cup title but believes the squad's improvement augurs well for the future.

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Japan narrowly beat Oman via controversial penalty; Qatar smash six past North Korea

Japan reached the knockout stages of last year's World Cup but they squeaked past Turkmenistan 3-2 in their opening Group F game and were poor against Oman, who almost equalised when Raed Saleh's acrobatic late volley flashed wide

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Yuya Osako nets brace as Japan survive early scare to beat Turkmenistan in opening fixture

Japan, kept out of the World Cup quarter-finals by Belgium, have now lost just one of their last 29 games at the Asian Cup, excluding penalty shootouts.

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Carlos Queiroz-led Iran bank on World Cup heroics; rejuvenated Japan, South Korea emerge top contenders

Iran's achievements have been superlative and the Asian Cup should be the crowning point of a few enthralling years, but any of Australia, South Korea, and Japan will pounce if Iran were to falter.

AFC Asian Cup 2019: Japan midfielder Shinji Kagawa dropped as coach Hajime Moriyasu goes with young squad

Japan dropped former Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa from the Blue Samurai's bid to reclaim the Asian Cup, opting instead for a squad filled with young Europe-based talents.