Japan skipper Endo forced out of World Cup with injury, retires from international football

Endo, who had a season plagued by injuries while at Liverpool, has been replaced by Borussia Monchengladbach forward Shuto Machino, according to a statement from the Japan Football Association.

"Since getting injured, I have done absolutely everything I could up to this point, so I have no regrets at all," Endo wrote in a social media post.

The 33 year old expressed frustration at missing the showcase tournament but felt proud of the team's progress since the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

"With this campaign, I am stepping down from the national side. From now on, I will be supporting the Japan national team as one of its fans," he added.

Japan are in Group F and begin their eighth World Cup finals campaign against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14th, before facing Tunisia and Sweden.