TOKYO AC Milan striker Andriy Shevchenko will not travel to Japan for Ukraine's friendly with the World Cup co-hosts on March 21, a Japanese newspaper reported on Monday.

Shevchenko said he would not make the trip because he wanted to concentrate on AC Milan's push for a place in next season's European Champions League, according to the **** Sankei **** sports daily.

"No, no, no. I am not going to Japan. I've got the (Serie A) championship to think of," the 25-year-old told reporters after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Atalanta at the San Siro Stadium.

The top four finishers in serie a qualify for the Champions League and, with AC Milan currently sixth and Ukraine failing to qualify for the World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan, Shevchenko has apparently chosen club over country.

Even if Shevchenko were to have a change of heart, AC Milan could demand the player stay in Italy if the club advance to the quarterfinals of the UEFA Cup as second-leg ties are scheduled for March 21.

Shevchenko's decision not to travel to Osaka will come as a blow to Japan Coach Philippe Troussier, who selected the friendly with Ukraine to prepare for Group H opponents Russia at the World Cup.

According to Reuters, Belgium and Tunisia are the other two teams in Group H.

Shevchenko, who finished as Serie A's top scorer in 1999, his first season at AC Milan, has put Ukrainian soccer officials in an awkward position after promising the Japanese they would field their strongest side in Osaka.

Japan, who have not played an international since the 1-1 draw with Italy in Saitama last November, meet Poland in Warsaw in a friendly on March 27 after taking on Ukraine at Nagai Stadium, one of Japan's 10 World Cup venues.

Japan's World Cup preparations have already been hit by a rash of injuries in recent weeks, with experienced Jubilo Iwata pair Hiroshi Nanami and Toshihiro Hattori unlikely to be fit in time to face Ukraine.

With Japan playmaker Hidetoshi Nakata relegated to the bench at Italian club Parma and first-choice goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi out of favor at English first division side Portsmouth, Troussier has had little to smile about so far this year.