Endo sends Japan warning ahead of World Cup qualifier
The Peninsula
Japan: Captain Wataru Endo has urged Japan to shake off their recent struggles against Asian opposition and take a step towards World Cup qualificatio...
Japan: Captain Wataru Endo has urged Japan to shake off their recent struggles against Asian opposition and take a step towards World Cup qualification against China on Thursday.
Japan are one of the continent's top sides but they crashed and burned at the Asian Cup in Qatar at the start of the year, losing to Iran in the quarter-finals.
They also made hard work of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, opening the third round with a shock home defeat to Oman and losing early on away to Saudi Arabia.
Japan kick off the third qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup against China in Saitama and Liverpool midfielder Endo believes they have the quality to make a strong start.
"We remember losing the opening game of the World Cup qualifiers last time and we also have the frustration from the Asian Cup," said Endo, who was linked with a move away from Anfield during the summer.