Suspensions, injuries and the recall of some of the Europe-based stars will certainly mean Japan will have to field a side that takes on Iran on Friday different from the one that defeated DPR Korea 2-1 in the opening Group B match of the World Cup Asian Qualifiers final round.

Goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi has been ruled out after sustaining a broken finger while training for club at the end of February and he has been joined on the injury-list by Jubilo Iwata teammate Toshiya Fujita.

The veteran midfielder picked up a calf injury during Japan's training camp in Frankfurt, Germany and has not made the trip to Tehran.

According to the Daily Yomuri, Fujita will be replaced by striker Atsushi Yanagisawa, ironically a teammate of Iran defender Rahman Rezaei at Italian side Messina.

Yanagisawa is not the only Europe-based player returning to the international fold as Fiorentina's Hidetoshi Nakata, Shinji Ono, currently with Feyenoord in Holland, and Junichi Inamoto, the Cardiff City midfielder, are all set to make welcome comebacks.

Nakata, a two-time Asian Footballer Of The Year, is back in the Japan squad for the first time in over a year and despite having had a less-than-impressive season so far with Fiorentina -- the fourth Italian club of his career -- could even return to the starting 11 as captain.

Zico could field all four players in a cosmopolitan and vastly experienced midfield but the Brazilian's main issue is with the rearguard.

In addition to the absence of Kawaguchi, who has an able deputy in Seigo Narazaki, Zico must do without defenders Alessandro Santos and Makoto Tanaka, who are both suspended.

Iran coach Branko Ivankovic has no suspension worries as he looks to guide the Persians to the first three points of their Group B campaign following their disappointing goalless draw with Bahrain in the first match.

The match kicks off at 1805hours local time.

Source: Xinhua