The most devastating heartbreak of the 2026 World Cup happened completely off the pitch. Just three days before Japan’s massive opening match against the Netherlands, captain Wataru Endo was officially forced to withdraw from the tournament due to a severe foot injury recurrence. Hours later, the Liverpool midfielder shocked the football world by announcing his immediate retirement from international football. New captain Ko Itakura admitted to reporters that losing their leader deeply hurts the entire squad, but Endo’s final emotional sacrifice has completely united the country. Can the Samurai Blue pull off a miracle?
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