Defender Kou Itakura, who has returned to Borussia Mönchengladbach, has told the club he wants to withdraw from next January’s Asian Cup and focus entirely on his club career, according to a German newspaper. Some see the absence of Itakura — who captained Japan at the World Cup after injured skipper Endo went down — as a real blow to Moriyasu’s squad, but on 5ch opinion is split, with comments like “the Asian Cup isn’t worth that much anyway” and “Taniguchi can be captain instead.”
Defender Kou Itakura (29), who has returned to Bundesliga side Borussia Mönchengladbach, has told the club he wishes to withdraw from next January’s Asian Cup, where Japan’s national team will compete, German media reported on the 20th. He reportedly informed the club’s management that he wants to stay with the team.
If Japan reaches the final of the tournament, Mönchengladbach could be without him for up to six matches. That’s convenient for the club, but a concern for the Japan national team — in what will be manager Hajime Moriyasu’s final tournament in charge — since it would lose the player who captained the side at the World Cup in North/Central America after Endo’s injury.
Source: sponichi.co.jp / Original article here
5Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:33:33.11ID:92P6mX1j0
Taniguchi should be captain through the Asian Cup — honestly would've been better at the World Cup too.
6Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:36:02.37ID:bMWXToQt0
At his age, he probably won't get called up for the national team again anyway.
7Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:37:18.47ID:yR+jKYRh0
Eh, the Asian Cup isn't worth that much anyway.
8Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:39:20.24ID:37ZWBvqQ0
Well, Gladbach basically saved his career, so it's fine.
We already know what he can do.
9Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:40:32.78ID:gLCBXRDB0
Zion should focus on his club too.
Just call up Bryan Kokubo for GK.
10Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:41:15.77ID:XwF1qqN70
A second bailout in six months — guess enough is enough.
He's in danger of losing his spot at his 'day job' (his club).
11Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:41:25.84ID:3My0T3hL0
Going by his last World Cup performance, Japan doesn't need him.
12Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:43:02.21ID:o9O9u4bT0
Sudden or not, the captain pulling this is rough…
Moriyasu Japan has zero sense when it comes to picking the No.10 and the captain.
Seriously, just give the No.10 and captaincy to someone actually popular for once.
70Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:33:36.02ID:JZ+73LG50
>>12
Adidas.
13Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:44:19.82ID:N9jU1US30
Let Mitoma, Zion, and Tomiyasu skip it too while you're at it.
16Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:49:54.17ID:s2Kl76J70
He's basically the soccer version of Hideki Matsui (baseball legend who skipped the national team for MLB).
National team fans are probably gonna hate him for it.
18Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:52:39.63ID:3fGcMtOq0
Honestly, he's not good enough to be captain.
19Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:53:06.29ID:tt9gZtjo0
Guess this proves his mentor Nagatomo's influence did nothing (lol)
20Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:53:54.34ID:7PgPsRiU0
His passion doesn't hold a candle to Nakazawa "the fisherman" (former Japan captain Yuji Nakazawa, known for his fishing hobby).
Well, good luck at the club — feels like he could be surplus to requirements there soon too.
22Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:55:42.72ID:qMeacSxI0
Even when he does show up for the national team, he's always out of shape or injured.
He's just not a guy you can rely on when it actually matters.
25Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:57:40.71ID:JTMPETW20
The real reason is probably his wife giving birth.
26Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:57:46.56ID:3cu/c3N50
I mean, do we even need him?
Thinking about it normally, not really.
28Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:58:36.79ID:pK1LwumC0
A guy this flaky can't handle being captain.
Honestly not sure why he's even on the national team talent-wise.
Just strip him of the captaincy.
29Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 07:58:49.41ID:SHOYIOwg0
Well, Japan's got plenty of talent to choose from these days.
31Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:00:40.11ID:7PgPsRiU0
Anyway, I just want to see Yuito Suzuki play lol
33Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:01:47.69ID:3t4n9PJe0
If it were a new manager, sure, but there's injury risk and it's still Moriyasu — not much reason to go, really.
34Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:01:53.07ID:zxXQDvP/0
Pretty selfish, huh.
40Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:05:39.47ID:90/XEWzA0
>>34
Same reason he left Urawa Reds too — "didn't get along with the manager."
35Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:01:58.93ID:N1wbEB/Y0
Got himself a beautiful wife too —
time to focus on life at home.
38Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:04:09.98ID:GbjKVK1k0
Asian Cup: Jan 11 – Feb 5, 2027
Bundesliga winter break: Dec 20, 2026 – Jan 8
So the whole tournament falls smack in the middle of the regular season.
I thought the Bundesliga took a long break in January, but it turns out it starts back up pretty much right after New Year's.
39Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:04:52.81ID:wn7zH+HS0
Don't really think he's necessary anyway, but
withdrawing five months before the tournament when the captain isn't even injured — that's unheard of.
72Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:35:12.05ID:YN4kV1bW0
If Japan were consistently making the World Cup quarterfinals, I could get why people start looking down on the Asian Cup,
but the reality is the best they've managed is a round-of-32 exit, with zero titles to show for it.
Fans have just developed this weird inflated pride too — their whole self-esteem is probably propped up by the FIFA ranking and "quality of play" they used to mock, huh? lol
74Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:37:54.27ID:a6dDALQr0
Well of course the Europe-based players don't want to play an Asian Cup under a manager whose contract's already up.
84Anonymous2026/08/22(土) 08:45:48.97ID:CPC0yEps0
World Cup > Haruna Kawaguchi (a Japanese actress) > Asian Cup
Can't really argue with that priority list.
*This article is compiled and summarized from the 5ch (Geinou/Sports News+) thread ‘[Soccer] Itakura, back at Borussia Mönchengladbach, set to withdraw from January’s Asian Cup — signals intent to focus on club’.
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