Kashima Antlers announce squad for friendly with Vietnam
(VOV) -The Kashima Antlers football club from Japan will muster its strongest squad of nine national players and two Brazilians to play in a friendly match with Vietnam on June 4.
The national footballers include goalkeeper Hitoshi Sogahata, defenders DaikiIwamasa, Kazuya Yamamura, and Daigo Nishi, and midfielders Takeshi Aoki, Koji Nakata, MasaghiMatoyama, Takuya Honda and Misuo Ogasawara.
Koji Nakata and Mitsuo Ogasawara have been key members of the national squad for along time while Brazilian striker Carlos Alberto Carvalho dos Anjos, Jr. played previously for Palmeiras and the Brazilian U20 team.
Antlers’ coach Toninho Cerezo appeared on the Brazilian team 57 times and joined Zico, Socrates and Falcao to form the famous quartet with a dream attack style that was unluckily defeated 2-3 by the Italians during the second round of the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
However, the J-League is currently in fierce competition and some of its players are at high risk of injury so they are not able to attend the match, said the Japanese club.
The friendly match will provide a good opportunity for U23 Vietnam to gain valuable experience from facing this strong opponent.