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Soccer World Cup
Makoto Asahara
Updated 00.30 | Published 00.30
DALLAS. Wataru Endo, 33, did not make it back from his injury to play at the World Cup.
At the press conference before the opener against the Netherlands, Japan’s national team captain Hajime Moriyasu therefore apologizes.
– I feel a deep remorse for having done something that not only hurts him but also his family and loved ones, he says.
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It was packed, to say the least, at Japan’s press conference ahead of the meeting with the Netherlands tomorrow in Dallas.
And initially the questions were about a certain Wataru Endo, 33.
After all, it had only been a couple of days since the news came that the team captain and Liverpool star was removed from the squad as he did not have time to return from injury to play in the World Cup.
“The decision was mine”
A decision that national team captain Hajime Moriyasu takes on one hundred percent.
– Of course I took the medical team’s opinion to heart, but in the end the decision to strike him out was entirely mine, says Moriyasu.
– First we assessed that he was not ready to play 90 minutes before the match against Iceland. After that he regained consciousness. He underwent rehabilitation. And with his sights set on the World Cup, he worked hard to try and get fit. Together with the medical team, we carefully monitored his condition. After that, we came to the conclusion, both based on conversations with the medical team and my own assessment through the rehabilitation process, that it would be difficult for him to play at 100 percent, both in the World Cup opener and during the tournament as a whole.
“Of course he was hurt”
He is then asked how Endo himself took the news. Where he then chooses to apologize for his decision and choice which meant that the captain will not be allowed to play WC football this summer.
– When I gave him the news, I was not met at all by the reaction I had imagined. Rather, I felt I had to deliver a very harsh message to a player. I don’t know exactly what was going on inside Wataru when we spoke, but outwardly he was very calm, says Moriyasu.
– It goes without saying that Wataru has been hurt by this. But I feel a deep remorse for having done something that not only hurts him but also his family and his loved ones. I really want to apologize.
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