Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu says he makes the final call to keep team captain Wataru Endo out of the World Cup due to a left foot injury. Moriyasu says the injury was expected to limit Endo’s ability to play full matches, which influenced the decision to exclude the 33-year-old Liverpool midfielder from Japan’s World Cup lineup. The coach describes the situation as difficult, saying he had to tell Endo his decision earlier in the week. Speaking on Saturday, on the eve of Japan’s Group F opener against the Netherlands, Moriyasu outlines that the team considers both Endo’s role as captain and his physical condition. While Endo is sidelined for the tournament, the statements focus on the timing and reasoning behind the call, rather than on any alternative plans or replacement decisions. Both the reported injury detail and the coach’s explanation of the decision-making process are presented as the main context leading into Japan’s first match.