Takahara to lead Japan in friendlies

Former Eintracht Frankfurt striker Naohiro Takahara will spearhead Japan as they go against Chile and Bosnia in tune-up matches ahead of the Asian qualifying round for the 2010 World Cup. Takahara, who joined Asian club champions Urawa Red Diamonds for the upcoming season, became the best Japanese scorer in Europe in 2006-7 with 11 goals in 30 games. Takahara hurt his left leg again during a training camp that ended on Wednesday, but new Japan coach Takeshi Okada still decided to call him up. Japan will take on Chile on Saturday and Bosnia and Herzegovina on Wednesday next week, both at the national stadium in Tokyo. It will be Okada's first international games since he took over the job from Bosnian coach Ivica Osim, who suffered a serious stroke in November. Osim is hoping to make his first public appearance since his stroke to watch Japan play his homeland.