Japan pick 13 first-timers in baby-faced squad

TOKYO, Dec 22 (Reuters) - Japan coach Takeshi Okada gave 13 players their first call-ups when he named the squad to face Yemen in a 2011 Asian Cup qualifier on Jan. 6.

Okada will rest most of his first-choice players and take a fresh-faced squad of 19, with an average age below 21 and less than three hours of senior international experience between them.

Three-times Asian Cup winners Japan only need a draw in Yemen to qualify for the 2011 tournament in Qatar.

“Our biggest goal is (next year’s World Cup),” Okada told Japanese media on Tuesday. “If we don’t rest players before that it will be very difficult for them.”

The Yemen game will be played at altitude but Okada said his young players were up to the task.

“Japan has to be able to pick teams like this capable of competing,” he said. “It’s a chance for some of them to make a name for themselves.”

(Reporting by Alastair Himmer. Editing by Patrick Johnston. To query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)