NASHVILLE, Tennessee - Japan players were rocked after injured captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the World Cup on its opening day on Thursday.

Crystal Palace midfielder Daichi Kamada, who played with Endo as a youngster while on loan at Sint-Truiden in the 2018-19 season, appeared with him at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and lamented the departure of the influential skipper.

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