DALLAS: Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu must decide who will replace retired captain Wataru Endo at the heart of his midfield as they prepare to kick off their World Cup campaign against the Netherlands in Dallas on Sunday.

Endo had been expected to feature in the Group ‘F’ clash but a foot injury that has plagued him this year forced his withdrawal from the squad on Thursday and prompted the 33-year-old midfielder to announce his international retirement.

“There will definitely come a time in the future when Japan win the World Cup, so let’s believe in that and support the team,” he wrote on X.

“Let’s bring the strength of Japan together so that that moment can happen at this tournament in North America.” He added: “I have decided to retire from the national team. From now on, I will be supporting Japan as just another fan.”

He had formed a midfield partnership with Ao Tanaka in Japan’s most recent friendly against Iceland but Moriyasu’s confidence in his options was reflected in his decision to replace Endo with forward Shuto Machino.

Tanaka could be paired with Germany-based Kaishu Sano or Daichi Kamada.

“I was surprised to hear about Endo’s departure,” said Japan playmaker Takefusa Kubo. “We’ll just have to make do with the remaining players.

“I heard that Endo talked to (defender) Ko Itakura and I think he’s conveyed a lot of information, so I’m sure Itakura will share that with the team.”

Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman has concerns of his own with goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen recovering from a knock sustained in a 2-1 friendly win over Uzbekistan while forward Memphis Depay has played little over the last three months.

“We know that Memphis had a few injuries and he didn’t play the last few weeks but he is back and every day he is closer to his 100 per cent fitness,” Koeman said.

“He’s our top scorer in the national team and we need him if we’d like to go in a good way in this tournament. We need all the players but, of course we need Memphis Depay as well.”

The game at Dallas Stadium will be the first between the nations since a 2-2 draw in a friendly in 2013 and the Dutch registered a 1-0 win over the Japanese at their only previous World Cup meeting in South Africa in 2010.

“They have shown that they’re really strong as a team,” Koeman said of the Japanese.

“We believe in ourselves, we respect Japan but we are Holland and they will respect us. We are looking forward. I think it will be an interesting match, and a difficult one.”

Meanwhile, the Dutch fans are optimistic that their team will win the World Cup this time after losing three finals.

Danny van Dijk thinks that this time turning his street in The Hague completely orange is going to work, as the Netherlands again target a long-awaited title.

For 26 years, whenever the Dutch play in a major football championship, Van Dijk and other residents have turned Marktweg into “Orange Street”.

He stands in an orange sea. The houses are draped in orange tarpaulins, orange pennants stretch across the road, and giant photos of orange-clad players are plastered on orange-sheeted lamp-posts and trees. People come from all over the country to see it.

Despite this unwavering support the Netherlands have never won the World Cup, but this year, Van Dijk has “a good feeling — we’re going to win”.

Some 77km of flags line the street, in tribute to his mother, who passed away in March at the age of 77 and was a former figurehead of the event. Her unifying spirit endeared her to the public.

“We get to meet other people; all you see are smiles. We bump into people from the neighbourhood but also people who’ve come from all over the Netherlands,” said Van Dijk.

Published in Dawn, June 14th, 2026