SFA confirms Kirin Cup involvement
The Scottish Football Association has confirmed Walter Smith’s side will take on Japan and Bulgaria in the Kirin Cup this summer.
The Japanese FA has announced it will host the three-nation tournament as Japan gears up for the World Cup finals in Germany.
Scotland will take on Stilian Petrov’s Bulgaria on May 11 in Kobe and close the tournament against Zico’s side two days later at the Saitama Stadium.
An SFA spokesperson said: “Now that the Japanese FA have confirmed their tournament will take place this summer, we can announce our own involvement.”
Japan will also meet Bulgaria on May 9 in Osaka as they prepare for their third finals appearance.
“Setting our sights on the World Cup, we will take those two games very seriously,” Zico said. “I want our players to realize the situation clearly, that these two matches will be the last chance for them to make an appeal. I will finalise the final 23 after these two matches.”
Japan have also lined up a friendly in Germany against Malta, which will be played in Dusseldorf on June 4. The game comes four days after a meeting with the World Cup hosts in Leverkusen.
