Veteran midfielder boosts Japan

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OITA, Japan, Feb 1, 2010 (AFP) - Japan coach Takeshi Okada has brought Mitsuo Ogasawara back from the international wilderness to strengthen his midfield against Venezuela in Tuesday's pre-World Cup friendly.

Ogasawara, a Kashima Antlers veteran, last played for Japan in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, but has since been overlooked by Okada and his predecessor, Bosnian Ivica Osim.

The 30-year-old, who has scored seven goals in 53 games for the national side, is tipped to be in the starting line-up for the Blue Samurai, who will be without their Europe-based players including Espanyol's Shunsuke Nakamura, who has struggled in his first season in La Liga.

"I'm really looking forward to the game. I know what the coach is planning to do," said Ogasawara, 30. "I just try to integrate myself with the other players, although we have some players I've never played with."

Okada said Ogasawara had impressed in training.

"Ogasawara has done well so far. His positive attitude has given a positive impact on the team. I'm glad that I've called him up," Okada said, adding that the absence of the overseas players gave a chance to Japan-based players.

"Several of them lack experience with the national team, but if they perform well I'm going to use them for games in February and March," the coach added.

He said with the World Cup fast approaching, it was important for the national team to show how far they had progressed.

Japan were the first team to qualify for the World Cup in South Africa later this year while Venezuela failed to reach the finals after finishing eighth in South American qualifying.

Venezuela will also be missing most of their Europe-based contingent but about half of the squad's 20 players, including veteran centre back Jose Manuel Rey and midfielder Franklin Lucena, took part in the South American round.

The match kicks off at 7:10 pm (1010 GMT).