Japan has reversed its decision not to compete in this summer’s Copa America in Argentina after the country’s northeastern coast was devastated by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
Japan Football Association (JFA) general secretary Kozo Tashima does not expect all of Japan’s best players to be available, but the Asian champions shouldfield a competitive team. Because the J-League schedule has been rearranged due to the earthquake and tsunami, the JFA has agreed to take no more than one player from each J-League team.
“We don’t expect to get all the players we want,” Tashima told the Kyodo news agency, “and some we will need to rest. But we will try to pick as many of the players the manager needs.”