Endō Steps Down from Japan Squad

Wataru Endō, Liverpool’s midfield maestro and Japan captain, has retired from international football just as the World Cup looms — a heartbreaking twist after surgery and a late return to club action. Forced out by a setback during Japan’s win over Iceland, he’ll miss the tournament he hoped would be his farewell. In an emotional social media post, Endō honored his teammates and his captaincy, now shifting to fan mode. With Ko Itakura stepping in as captain and Machino replacing him, Japan’s squad shrinks without Liverpool’s presence. Endō’s injury timing stings even more after a sparse 12-game season — his club future now hangs in the balance. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/0aaa534ab6721370