Japan Team Arrives in US for World Cup; Captain Wataru Endo Races to Recover Before First Match

The Japanese national team has arrived in the United States to prepare for the upcoming World Cup. Captain Wataru Endo is racing against time to recover from injury before the first match against the Netherlands. Japan's head coach said, 'We can only believe, pray, and wait.'

According to AFP, Endo, 33, a midfielder for Liverpool in the English Premier League, is suffering from a foot injury and did not participate fully in the team's training camp in Mexico.

After the team arrived at their World Cup training base in Nashville, Tennessee, today, Endo participated in full team training for the first time, running and passing with his teammates.

Japan head coach Hajime Moriyasu indicated that Endo still has a chance to play against the Netherlands. 'According to the medical report, it doesn't say he can't play. We can only believe, pray, and wait,' he said.

This World Cup is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with matches spanning these three countries. Japan is in Group F with the Netherlands, Tunisia, and Sweden.

Japan's first match is scheduled for 4:00 AM Taipei time on the 15th against the Netherlands, followed by a match against Tunisia at 12:00 PM Taipei time on the 21st, and a match against Sweden at 7:00 AM Taipei time on the 26th.

Endo injured his foot during Liverpool's match against Sunderland in February, an injury serious enough to potentially end his season. However, he returned to play in Japan's friendly match against Iceland in Tokyo on May 31, helping the team to a 1-0 victory.

However, he was substituted at halftime and has continued to feel discomfort.

Moriyasu also stated that he would consider all replacement options and not just focus on Endo. 'We have several players recovering from injuries and must continue to assess their condition until the last moment. But the premise for calling them up was that we judged they could recover in time,' he said.

Japanese star Kaoru Mitoma, who plays for Brighton in the English Premier League, was unable to join the team due to an injury sustained during the league season. His injury occurred less than a week before Moriyasu announced the squad.

Another prominent Japanese player, Takumi Minamino, also missed the World Cup due to a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee last December.