Japan Captain Wataru Endo Retires from International Football After World Cup Injury

Japan’s World Cup campaign has been dealt a significant blow with the announcement that captain Wataru Endo will miss the tournament and has retired from international football. The experienced midfielder has been forced to withdraw from the squad due to an ongoing ankle injury.

Endo, who has earned 73 caps for his country, confirmed the news via social media on Thursday, expressing no regrets about his dedication to recovering from the injury. He stated his belief in the current Japanese squad’s ability to overcome adversity and achieve success on the world stage.

End of an Era

The Liverpool midfielder sustained ligament damage in February and, despite efforts to return for the tournament, the injury has not healed sufficiently. Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu had hoped Endo’s injury could be managed, but the decision was made for him to withdraw.

“Since my injury, I’ve done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever,” Endo wrote. “I’m proud of how we’ve grown together since the Qatar World Cup. The current team is truly a wonderful team and I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we’ve never seen before.”

He added, “I will be retiring from the national team and from now, I’ll be cheering for Japan as one of the fans. The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday.”

Squad Changes

Borussia Monchengladbach striker Shuto Machino has been called up as Endo’s replacement in the squad. Ajax’s Ko Itakura has been appointed as the new captain for the tournament. Endo’s absence, coupled with the earlier withdrawals of Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma and Monaco’s Takumi Minamino due to injury, presents a considerable challenge for Japan’s midfield and attacking options.

Japan’s World Cup Journey

This marks Japan’s eighth consecutive appearance at the FIFA World Cup, a streak that began in 1998. They are part of Group F, where they are scheduled to face the Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. Despite a strong record of consistent qualification, Japan has yet to progress beyond the Round of 16, holding the record for the most matches played without reaching the quarter-finals.

Key facts

Impact on Japan’s Chances

Endo’s leadership and defensive midfield prowess have been crucial for Japan. His experience and ability to break up play will be sorely missed. The team will need to adapt quickly to his absence, with new leadership stepping up to guide them through the group stage and beyond. The multiple key injuries raise questions about Japan’s depth and consistency as they aim to improve on their past World Cup performances.

Source: Asian Football Confederation – https://www.the-afc.com/en/national/fifa_world_cup.html/news/injured-endo-pulls-out-announces-international-retirement