ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) – Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu has made the final decision that team captain Wataru Endo will not play in the game. world cup The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder likely missed the full game due to an injury to his left foot.
Coach Moriyasu said on Saturday, on the eve of Japan’s first Group F match against the Netherlands, that it was difficult to convey his thoughts to Endo. Decision made earlier this week. The coach said Endo showed respect and understanding.
Coach Moriyasu said through an interpreter, “We asked him to do his best and the medical staff took care of him.” “We discussed during the World Cup that it might be difficult for him to perform for the entire duration of the match.”
The coach said it was a decision he “had to make.”
Endo, who played for Japan at the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, underwent surgery on his left foot in February. He made his return by appearing at halftime in Japan’s 1-0 win in a preliminary match against Iceland in Tokyo on May 31. He then traveled to the United States with his team to undergo physical therapy.
The Japan Football Association announced on Thursday that Endo had withdrawn from the national team due to injury. He then announced his sudden retirement from the national team.
“Since my injury, I have done everything I can. I have no regrets,” Endo said in a social media post this week, adding, “As a fan, I will support the Japanese national team.”
Defender Akira Itakura, who plays for Ajax in the Netherlands, has been appointed as the new captain. Borussia Monchengladbach forward Osamu Machino was called up to replace Endo.
___
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
