Foreign media are reporting that the 29-year-old defender who captained the Japan national team at the World Cup intends to skip next year’s Asian Cup. The news set off a wave of reactions on 5ch, with users drawing comparisons to past national-team withdrawal controversies and questioning the very significance of the Asian Cup itself.
Soccer Digest Web Editorial Team
August 21, 2026
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Endo and Kubo were already grumbling nonstop about being called up for the last Asian Cup too.
Something about how getting summoned at this point messes with their fight for a starting spot.
Something about how getting summoned at this point messes with their fight for a starting spot.
>>8
Funny — his teammate Salah, who went to AFCON around the same time as Endo, never complained about it. Then again, Endo pulled that exact same attitude at the Mexico-hosted World Cup.
Funny — his teammate Salah, who went to AFCON around the same time as Endo, never complained about it. Then again, Endo pulled that exact same attitude at the Mexico-hosted World Cup.
>>8
That's just the kind of person Endo Wataru is. He got judged as someone who can't contribute off the pitch the way Nagatomo or Minamino can — hence that whole withdrawal saga.
That's just the kind of person Endo Wataru is. He got judged as someone who can't contribute off the pitch the way Nagatomo or Minamino can — hence that whole withdrawal saga.
I mean, is it even okay to have a contract like that?
>>24
The national team can tie him down contractually, so they can still call him up.
The national team can tie him down contractually, so they can still call him up.
Take a page from Taniguchi, who scored the winner again today and still clearly wants to play for the national team.
Unlike Itakura, marriage only made him more fired up.
Unlike Itakura, marriage only made him more fired up.
>>27
Desire alone isn't enough.
Taniguchi can't compete on the world stage.
Desire alone isn't enough.
Taniguchi can't compete on the world stage.
>>27
I figured that was it for him after the Qatar World Cup, but four years ago I never imagined he'd climb the CB pecking order and make it to this World Cup.
I figured that was it for him after the Qatar World Cup, but four years ago I never imagined he'd climb the CB pecking order and make it to this World Cup.
A J.League all-star squad would be plenty for the Asian Cup — or just use the LA Olympics generation.
The Asian Cup doesn't even need to exist anymore.
Only the Middle Eastern teams seem to actually care about it.
There's zero benefit left in it for Japan.
Only the Middle Eastern teams seem to actually care about it.
There's zero benefit left in it for Japan.
>>50
Seriously, none at all.
It'd be different if winning it got you a special invite to the Euros.
Seriously, none at all.
It'd be different if winning it got you a special invite to the Euros.
Wasn't Tomiyasu injured at the Asian Cup once?
He doesn't need to play in it either.
He doesn't need to play in it either.
>>51
Tomi might be exactly that case. I can already picture it — either he messes something up at the tournament, or the damage piles up on that old injury and he ends up out mid-season.
Tomi might be exactly that case. I can already picture it — either he messes something up at the tournament, or the damage piles up on that old injury and he ends up out mid-season.
Way too many idiots underrating the Asian Cup.
It's the best chance to boost your FIFA ranking,
which helps your World Cup pot seeding too.
Stay ranked low and you'll keep landing in the group of death forever.
It's the best chance to boost your FIFA ranking,
which helps your World Cup pot seeding too.
Stay ranked low and you'll keep landing in the group of death forever.
>>60
If anything, being grouped with Brazil makes it easier to advance in the tournament. We already learned the pot barely matters.
If anything, being grouped with Brazil makes it easier to advance in the tournament. We already learned the pot barely matters.
>>60
Boosting the ranking is something players couldn't care less about.
Boosting the ranking is something players couldn't care less about.
>>60
The moment you can't be grouped with fellow Asian teams, the odds of drawing a tough group go way up.
The moment you can't be grouped with fellow Asian teams, the odds of drawing a tough group go way up.
Someone explain why they're holding the Asian Cup a mere six months after the World Cup?
In baseball terms it's like holding this year's Premier 12 six months after the WBC.
Of course players don't want to show up for that.
Mitoma and Kubo will probably bail too.
In baseball terms it's like holding this year's Premier 12 six months after the WBC.
Of course players don't want to show up for that.
Mitoma and Kubo will probably bail too.
>>67
Nagatomo will come running the second he's called up!
Nagatomo will come running the second he's called up!
Back in the day, winning it used to earn you a spot at the Confederations Cup.
>>81
I wish they'd bring the Confederations Cup back.
I wish they'd bring the Confederations Cup back.
Chase Pot 1 and you end up facing Brazil in the very first knockout match. Landing in Brazil's group actually benefits Japan more than climbing the rankings does.
>>83
That's just luck of the draw, not skill — how are you supposed to develop the team that way, especially with more countries joining now?
That's just luck of the draw, not skill — how are you supposed to develop the team that way, especially with more countries joining now?
>>81
At this point it's basically a punishment game.
Worth even less than the Premier 12, which at least doubles as Olympic qualifying in baseball.
At this point it's basically a punishment game.
Worth even less than the Premier 12, which at least doubles as Olympic qualifying in baseball.
>>88
Transfer fees are just money moving around — none of it goes into the players' pockets.
Transfer fees are just money moving around — none of it goes into the players' pockets.
>>105
Look at you bragging about salaries lol
Bragging about your age too — how much of that money actually goes to you? lol
Not a single yen of it, and yet here you are flexing lol
Look at you bragging about salaries lol
Bragging about your age too — how much of that money actually goes to you? lol
Not a single yen of it, and yet here you are flexing lol
>>91
Okay, that's just too dumb.
The Asian Cup itself is on a whole different level above baseball's Olympics or the WBC.
Okay, that's just too dumb.
The Asian Cup itself is on a whole different level above baseball's Olympics or the WBC.
>>70
They got absolutely crushed — what game were you even watching?
They got absolutely crushed — what game were you even watching?
>>131
It was 1-1 all the way into stoppage time.
You're the one who should ask what game you were watching.
It was 1-1 all the way into stoppage time.
You're the one who should ask what game you were watching.
It's a garbage tournament where a team like Qatar — who couldn't even grab a single point hosting their own World Cup — can end up champions.
Realistically, Australia and Iran are about the only sides who can give Japan a good match, so friendlies against just those two would be more worthwhile.
Realistically, Australia and Iran are about the only sides who can give Japan a good match, so friendlies against just those two would be more worthwhile.
>>132
No matter how many friendlies you play, the only team they ever actually beat when it counted was a Tunisia side that had already fallen apart.
No matter how many friendlies you play, the only team they ever actually beat when it counted was a Tunisia side that had already fallen apart.
>>144
In soccer you get points even for a draw,
so people don't think about it the way you do.
Picking up 5 points in the group stage is actually pretty impressive.
In soccer you get points even for a draw,
so people don't think about it the way you do.
Picking up 5 points in the group stage is actually pretty impressive.
>>154
Way to lower the bar lol
Way to lower the bar lol
>>154
That's exactly why they always lose in the knockout rounds.
That's exactly why they always lose in the knockout rounds.
*This article is excerpted and summarized from the 5ch (Geinō/Sports News+) thread「[Soccer] No way! Dark clouds over Japan’s national team… 29-year-old DF who captained them at the World Cup may skip the Asian Cup. Foreign reports say he “intends to sit out”」.
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