Wataru Endo can already begin clearing his diary for the summer time of 2026 after Japan turned the primary nation to efficiently qualify for subsequent yr’s World Cup.
The Blue Samurai be a part of co-host trio USA, Mexico and Canada on the finals after their 2-0 win over Bahrain on Saitama on Thursday assured them a top-two end of their AFC qualification group, confirming what had lengthy since appeared a formality.
It maintains Japan’s document of that includes at each World Cup since their debut look in 1998, and such is their dominance within the group that they nonetheless have three extra matches to fulfil.
Endo praised in Japan as World Cup ticket booked
As captain of his nationwide group, Endo is a outstanding determine in his homeland, and his nation’s media hailed the Liverpool midfielder’s efficiency in at the moment’s victory over Bahrain.
He earned a 6.5/10 match score from Yahoo Japan, with the decision that he was ‘as robust as ever’ and ‘confirmed his strengths not solely defensively, but in addition offensively, and created possibilities’.
In the meantime, Tokyo TV Sports activities famous that the 32-year-old was unlucky to have a ninth-minute purpose dominated out by VAR after Ayase Ueda was adjudged to have dealt with the ball within the lead-up.
Endo places in a captain’s efficiency for Japan
On the event of his 68th cap, Endo was certainly a invaluable contributor to the win which confirmed an eighth successive World Cup last look for Japan.
As per Sofascore, the Liverpool man – who Thomas Hitzlsperger beforehand known as “a supervisor’s dream” – gained six of his 9 duels, accomplished 69 of his 73 passes (95%), made three clearances and one sort out, performed one key cross and created one ‘large likelihood’ for his group, all while shedding the ball solely eight instances from 90 touches.
Assuming he’s out there for the event in 15 months’ time, the Reds’ quantity 3 – whose instance has been cited by Arne Slot as one for his teammates to comply with – appears to be like set to journey to his third World Cup, having been an unused squad member in Russia 2018 earlier than taking part in all 4 of Japan’s matches at Qatar 2022.
The stress is off for Endo and his nationwide group once they host Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, and even with an extended flight again to Merseyside, he’ll nonetheless have per week to arrange for the Merseyside derby as his consideration reverts to the pursuit of a Premier League winner’s medal!
