Wataru Endo has been forced to withdraw from Japan duty on the eve of the World Cup, announcing his retirement from international football.
The 33-year-old had been sidelined since February with a foot injury but returned to full training in the final weeks of the season and was on the bench for Liverpool’s final game of the season.
Endo was therefore named in the Japan squad as captain of Samurai Blue.
However, just hours before the first game of the tournament, Endo and Japan announced the midfielder’s withdrawal from the tournament and also that he is retiring from international duty.
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?
It’s a cruel blow for a player who clearly showed great pride in representing his country. He made 73 appearances for Japan, scoring four times.
It means there are just seven current Liverpool players taking part in this summer’s tournament in Mexico, Canada and the USA.
Endo’s contract at Liverpool expires next summer.