Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic on Thursday announced his call-ups for the team’s upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

FC Tokyo defender Masato Morishige, Urawa Reds midfielder Yosuke Kashiwagi and Kawasaki Frontale striker Yu Kobayashi are amongst 11 players called up from J.League clubs.

The Samurai Blue will host Syria on March 24 and Afghanistan on March 29 at Saitama Stadium.

Japan squad for 2018 FIFA World Cup/2019 AFC Asian Cup Joint Qualifiers:

Goalkeepers

Eiji Kawashima (Scotland / Dundee United)
Masaaki Higashiguchi (Gamba Osaka)
Shusaku Nishikawa (Urawa Reds)
Akihiro Hayashi (Sagan Tosu)

Defenders

Yuta Nagatomo (Italy / Inter)
Tomoaki Makino (Urawa Reds)
Masato Morishige (FC Tokyo)
Maya Yoshida (England / Southampton)
Hiroki Fujiharu (Gamba Osaka)
Hiroki Sakai (Germany / Hannover 96)
Gotoku Sakai (Germany / Hamburger SV)
Gen Shoji (Kashima Antlers)

Midfielders

Makoto Hasebe (Germany / Eintracht Frankfurt)
Yosuke Kashiwagi (Urawa Reds)
Shinji Kagawa (Germany / Dortmund)
Hiroshi Kiyotake (Germany / Hannover 96)
Hotaru Yamaguchi (Germany / Hannover)
Genki Haraguchi (Germany / Hertha Berlin)

Forwards

Shinji Okazaki (England / Leicester City)
Keisuke Honda (Italy / AC Milan)
Mike Havenaar (Holland / ADO Den Haag)
Yu Kobayashi (Kawasaki Frontale)
Mu Kanazaki (Kashima Antlers)
Takashi Usami (Gamba Osaka)