Japan captain Endo withdraws from World Cup with injury

Japan captain Wataru Endo has withdrawn from the national team due to his foot injury, the Japan Football Association said.

Endo played the first half of Japan’s send-off match against Iceland on May 31, but has not returned to full team training since.

The 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder underwent surgery in February.

Shuto Machino, a Borussia Monchengladbach forward, has been called up as Endo’s replacement.