AKINORI Nishizawa made a surprise appearance on the bench for Japan in the 2-2 thriller with Belgium.
Earlier reports said Nishi, who spent the first half of the season on loan at the Reebok, had been forced to pull out of Japan's World Cup squad.
The Osaka striker, has made a quick recovery from an emergency appendix operation early in May, to make the bench for his country's first game.
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