Japan unveils touching Wataru Endo tribute after Liverpool man's injury agony

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Liverpool FC NewsFeaturesWataru EndoJapan's players unveiled a touching tribute to Wataru Endo after the Liverpool man's heartbreaking injury setback meant that he withdrew from the World Cup and retiredKo Itakura of Japan holds Wataru Endo's jersey aloft(Image: Masashi Hara/Getty Images)Japan's players held up a Wataru Endo jersey at the final whistle of their 2-2 draw with the Netherlands yesterday, in tribute to their captain.The Liverpool midfielder, 33, had to withdraw from the World Cup just hours before it kicked off last week because of injury. Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk opened the scoring after a great cross from Ryan Gravenberch.But while the Reds trio played well — Cody Gakpo was fairly lively down the left flank — they were unable to see out the result.Keito Nakamura leveled and Crysencio Summerville (again assisted by Gravenberch) made it 2-1, before Daichi Kamada pulled Japan all square for a second time.Content cannot be displayed without consent"As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad," Endo wrote on social media four days ago.

"Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever."Of course, there's frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup."But more than that, I'm proud of how we've grown together since the Qatar World Cup — me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of 'winning the World Cup' into something we can say as a matter of course."The current team is truly a wonderful team. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we've never seen before.Get Liverpool's new 2026/27 home kitThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it.

So from here on, I'll be cheering for the Japan national team as one of the fans."The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday."Let's believe in that and cheer them on together. And let's unite Japan's strength as one so that moment comes in this tournament — everyone, let's take on the North and Central America World Cup together!