Liverpool star ruled out of World Cup and issues devastated statement | Football | Sport
Wataru Endo is out of the World Cup. (Image: Getty)
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has been ruled out of this summer’s World Cup through injury and the Japan captain will retire from international football as a result. Endo had previously been named in his national team’s squad for the competition, despite spending the majority of Liverpool’s remaining season sidelined through injury.
The Japan international sustained a serious foot injury during Liverpool‘s victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light in February, which kept him out for the bulk of the campaign. Having been included in Japan’s World Cup squad, Endo was also named among the substitutes for Liverpool’s 1-1 draw with Brentford on the final day of the Premier League season on May 24.
Despite this, Japan’s national team officials have now confirmed that Endo has been withdrawn from the squad.
Reports emerging from Japan indicate that Endo was absent from Japan’s training session in Nashville, Tennessee, on Thursday.
Masakuni Yamamoto, Japan Football Association’s national team director, confirmed that Endo’s foot injury has failed to improve, and that he will be departing the squad ahead of this summer’s World Cup.
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Borussia Monchengladbach midfielder Shuto Machino has been drafted in as Endo’s replacement in Japan’s squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Endo issued a statement that read: “As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I’ve done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever.
“Of course, there’s frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I’m proud of how we’ve grown together since the Qatar World Cup—me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of “winning the World Cup” into something we can say as a matter of course.
“The current team is truly a wonderful team. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we’ve never seen before. With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team. So from here on, I’ll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans.
“The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday. Let’s believe in that and cheer them on together. And let’s unite Japan’s strength as one so that moment comes in this tournament—everyone, let’s take on the North and Central America World Cup together!! Everyone, give it everything you’ve got.”
Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo suffered an injury back in February but has been named in Japan’s World Cup squad (Image: Getty Images)
Japan, drawn in Group F for this summer’s World Cup, will face the Netherlands (June 14), Tunisia (June 21) and Sweden (June 26) in the opening phase of the tournament, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Endo’s withdrawal from the Japan squad means seven Liverpool players will now be representing their respective nations at this summer’s World Cup.
Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch and Cody Gakpo are all named in the Netherlands’ tournament squad, while Alexis Mac Allister (Argentina), Alisson Becker (Brazil), Florian Wirtz (Germany) and Alexander Isak (Sweden) will also be heading to North America for the World Cup.
The full extent of Endo’s injury is yet to be determined, with the midfielder remaining hopeful of being fit enough to participate in Liverpool’s pre-season preparations under incoming manager Andoni Iraola.
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