TOKYO: Japan coach Vahid Halilhodzic left little to chance for next week’s WC qualifier against Syria by naming European stars Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa among a strong squad.

Salzburg striker Takumi Minamino also earned his first call-up for the Blue Samurai under the Franco-Bosnian for the October 8 game in neutral Oman. Japan are also scheduled to play a friendly against Iran in Tehran on October 15.