Japan coach says sorry after Endo's World Cup dreams end

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu on Saturday said Wataru Endo is “hurt” and apologised after ending the captain’s World Cup dreams just before the tournament.

The Liverpool midfielder announced on Thursday that he was done with international football. This was because he could not recover from an injury before Japan’s first match against the Netherlands in Dallas on Sunday.

Moriyasu, who wants Japan to win the World Cup in North America, said he decided that the 33-year-old should not play due to a foot injury.

Endo made his debut for Japan in 2015 and retires with 73 caps, scoring four goals for his country.

“I ultimately looked at whether he can perform or not, and remain in the team or not. I was the one that made the final decision,” Moriyasu, who seemed emotional, told reporters at the air-conditioned stadium in Dallas, home to NFL team the Dallas Cowboys.

“When I communicated the message to Wataru… I felt really bad to tell him such a message.

“Of course it’s impossible to know exactly how he felt or to know what his thoughts were, but he was very understanding and respectful.

“Of course he was hurt. The family members and all the people that he loves, and even the supporters or other people who were supporting him… they were hurt as well.

“I really would like to apologise sincerely to them personally.

“For the team and also for the country, that decision had to be made. It was tough.”

Japan are seen as strong contenders in the World Cup, having shown their strength by beating England at Wembley before the competition.

Moriyasu encouraged his talented squad not to focus on the absence of Endo and injured Brighton winger Kaoru Mitoma.

“When the unexpected happens we have to make sure we are not upset or shocked too much,” said the coach, who led the team to group-stage wins over Spain and Germany at the Qatar 2022 World Cup before losing to Croatia on penalties in the last 16.

He added: “We could be considered a dark horse, but to do that we have to break the shells off of what we have been hiding in and try to go to the limit.