Two days after Japanese captain Wataru Endo withdrew from the World Cup due to an ankle injury, his coach Hajime Moriyasu told reporters that he took responsibility for the decision.
Following his withdrawal, Endo announced his retirement from international competition altogether.
Moriyasu spoke with the media through an interpreter on Saturday, saying it was ultimately his responsibility.
“As the head coach, I was the one who made the final decision,” Moriyasu said.
The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder had been dealing with an ankle injury that required surgery in February. Endo was hoping to be fit for the competition in North America, but experienced discomfort and played only the first half in a May 31 tune-up friendly against Iceland.
“I’d been receiving reports from the medical staff. During the game with Iceland, he was not able to perform on the pitch for a long time,” Moriyasu added. “We had him try as best as he could and also had the medical staff looking after him. We discussed that throughout the World Cup, it may be difficult for him to perform for the entire period of the games, therefore I made the final decision looking at his condition.
“It felt really bad for me to give him such a message. Of course, it’s impossible to know exactly how he felt or know what his thoughts were, but he was very understanding and respectful and we could maintain our good conversation in a cool manner.”
Japan open Group F play against Netherlands on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Endo has scored four goals in 73 caps for Japan since his 2015 debut with the national team. He helped the team reach the Round of 16 at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
“As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad,” Endo wrote on social media earlier in the week. “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 some day. Let’s believe in that and cheer them on together.”
Shuto Machino, a striker for Bundesliga club Borussia Monchengladbach, replaced Endo on the 26-man World Cup roster.
Japan will also face Tunisia on June 20 in Guadalupe, Mexico, and Sweden on June 25 in Arlington, Texas.
–Field Level Media
