Japan captain Endo out of World Cup with foot injury

Japan captain Wataru Endo has officially withdrawn from the World Cup squad due to a foot injury, the Japan Football Association (JFA) announced on Thursday.

The injury means the Liverpool midfielder cannot recover in time to play in the world’s biggest tournament with the national team. The JFA said Endo will return to his club for continued treatment and recovery.

Endo’s absence is a major blow for Japan, as he is not only a spiritual leader but also a key component of the team’s deep-lying defensive system. There has been no word yet on which player will replace him in the official squad.