Japan captain Hasebe ready after injury
Friday, 13 June 2014
TOKYO, June 12 (AFP): Japan captain Makoto Hasebe has declared himself "ready to go" for his team's World Cup Group C opener against Ivory Coast in Recife at the weekend, shrugging off worries over a knee injury.
"There is no problem (with the knee) and I have been taking part in full training," the Eintracht Frankfurt defensive midfielder said after Wednesday's workout at Japan's World Cup base camp in Itu, near Sao Paulo.
"Obviously it is the coach that decides but I am ready to go," the 30-year-old said about the chance of his making the first team for the matcn which kicks off at 11pm local time on Saturday (0200GMT Sunday), according to Kyodo News.