Japan drop Kagawa, Greece start with Mitroglou in Natal

NATAL Brazil (Reuters) - Japan coach Alberto Zaccheroni has dropped out-of-form attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa from his side for the World Cup Group C clash against Greece on Thursday.

Kagawa had a disappointing outing in the Asian champions' opening 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast and makes way for Yoshito Okubo, while the experienced Yasuyuki Konno comes into the defence for Masato Morishige.

Greece coach Fernando Santos has given prolific striker Kostas Mitroglou, whose preparations for Brazil were disrupted by a knee injury, his first start of the tournament in place of Theofanis Gekas.

Tricky winger Giannis Fetfatzidis's better ball retention gets him the nod ahead of forward Dimitris Salpingidis, who started up front in the 3-0 loss to Colombia.

(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, Editing by Justin Palmer)