TOKYO (AP) — The Japan Football Association said Thursday that the captain said: Wataru Endo withdrew from the country world cup Missed the team due to a foot injury. The Liverpool midfielder then suddenly announced his retirement from international football.
Endo, 33, posted his decision in Japanese on his X account three days before the Group F opener against the Netherlands. The Japanese national team is training in Nashville, Tennessee.
Endo, who underwent surgery on his left leg in February, said, “I’ve done everything I can since my injury.I have no regrets.” He made his return in a warm-up match against Iceland in Tokyo on 31 May, coming on as a substitute at half-time in a 1–0 win.
“With this, I have decided to retire from the national team. So from now on, I will continue to support the Japanese national team as a fan.”
National team director Masakuni Yamamoto announced that Ajax defender Hiroshi Itakura has been appointed as the new captain, while Borussia Mönchengladbach forward Nobuto Machino has been called up to replace Endo.
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