Wataru Endo, the Japanese midfielder who was forced to step back from the country’s national team, has announced he will also be stepping back from international football.
Announcing the sad news on X, formerly Twitter, the 33-year-old said he had done “everything he possibly could” following his injury, adding he has “no regrets”. Wataru said: “From the moment I got injured up until now, I have done everything I possibly could, so I have no regrets.
“Of course there is frustration at not being able to play in this World Cup, but more than that, I am proud that since the Qatar World Cup I have led this team as captain and that we have grown together into a group that can speak of ‘winning the World Cup’ as a matter of course.
“The team we have now is a truly outstanding one. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us a view we have never seen before.”
Wataru Endo will miss the World Cup through injury