Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu has admitted it was his call to leave captain Wataru Endo out of the World Cup squad, a decision that effectively ends the Liverpool midfielder's international career.
Injury and Recovery
Endo suffered a serious ankle injury during his only Premier League start last season, a 1-0 win for Liverpool over Sunderland in February. The Japan captain had hoped to recover in time for the tournament in North America, but an emotional social media post earlier this week confirmed his absence.
Moriyasu's Admission
Speaking ahead of Japan's World Cup opener against the Netherlands, Moriyasu revealed the difficult decision. "As the head coach, I was the one who made the final decision," he said. "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: "It felt really bad for me to give him such a message. Of course, it's impossible to know exactly how he felt, but he was very understanding and respectful."
Endo's Farewell
Endo announced his retirement from international football in his post. "As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could, so I have no regrets," he wrote. "With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team. From here on, I'll be cheering for Japan as one of the fans."
The 33-year-old will now join Liverpool's pre-season tour in the United States under new manager Andoni Iraola.
