Coupe du monde 2026 : forfait à la dernière minute avec le Japon, Wataru Endo prend une décision radicale
A major blow for Japan 48 hours before their opening match at the 2026 World Cup. The Japanese Football Federation announced on Thursday that their captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the competition due to an injury that will prevent him from participating.
The 32-year-old Liverpool midfielder will therefore be unable to represent the "Blue Samurai" at the World Cup. To compensate for this significant absence, the Japanese coach has decided to call up striker Shuto Machino, who joins the squad in place of Endo.
This announcement also marks the end of an era for the Japanese national team. A long-time international with 4 goals in 73 appearances, Wataru Endo has chosen to end his international career. A significant decision for someone who was for a long time one of the leaders in the Japanese dressing room.
Having seen limited playing time at Liverpool last season, the defensive midfielder nevertheless hoped to participate in this World Cup, which was expected to be one of the last major tournaments of his career. An injury ultimately thwarted his plans and hastened his departure from the international stage.
Japan thus loses an experienced player and a true leader before the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Commentaires (0)
Participer à la Discussion
Règles de la communauté
💡 Astuce : Utilisez des emojis depuis votre téléphone ou le module emoji ci-dessous. Cliquez sur GIF pour ajouter un GIF animé. Collez un lien X/Twitter, TikTok ou Instagram pour l'afficher automatiquement.
Se connecter
Commentez avec votre profil, votre photo, et soyez averti des réponses.