Wataru Endo begins extra Liverpool pre-season schedule after World Cup heartbreak
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SportFootballLiverpool FCWataru Endo has started his pre-season programme at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre baseWataru Endo has begun his pre-season programme at Liverpool's AXA Training Centre early after missing out on the World Cup with Japan.The Japan captain hasn't played for the Reds since suffering a serious ankle injury in the 1-0 win at Sunderland on February 11 but returned to international duty last month.However, despite playing for Samurai Blue in their warm-up win over Iceland on May 31, when the Reds midfielder featured for 45 minutes, he was subsequently left out of the World Cup squad.After it was confirmed by head coach Hajime Moriyasu that Endo was being omitted from the squad for the tournament that is taking place across Canada, the United States and Mexico, over fitness concerns relating to his injury, the Reds star announced his retirement from Japan shortly after in a message on social media.On Thursday, Endo posted an image at the club's training base in Kirkby with the captain 'Day 1' to indicate the start of his pre-season period, with the majority of his colleagues slated to return on Monday, July 13.Endo will be part of the squad that flies out to the States on July 20 for their pre-season tour, where Andoni Iraola's men visit Nashville, New York and Chicago for friendlies with Sunderland, Wrexham and Leeds United.Writing after it was confirmed he was to be left out of the Japanese World Cup squad, Endo posted: "As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad."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."With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team.
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!!"Everyone, give it everything you've got.
Wataru Endo."Japan were knocked out at the last-32 round on Monday when Brazil fought back to win 2-1.FOLLOW OUR LIVERPOOL FC FACEBOOK PAGE! All the latest news and analysis from Anfield on the Liverpool Echo's dedicated LFC Facebook pageChoose Liverpool Echo as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.Liverpool FCWataru Endo