Tomiyasu named in Japan's World Cup squad, Mitoma ruled out with injury

[p]The central defender, who currently plays for Ajax after his contract was annulled by mutual ‌consent with Arsenal last year, was included in the 26-man squad announced by the coach in Tokyo on Friday.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tomiyasu-takehiro/OSNvjZSP/"]Tomiyasu[/a], ‌who last played for [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/japan/ULXPdOUj/"]Japan[/a] against Syria in 2024, was included in the squad ‌for the March international window before withdrawing and Moriyasu suggested he would be given a run-out against ‌Iceland in Tokyo on May 31.[/p][p][b]"Although he has not appeared in official matches ‌recently for tactical reasons, our medical staff have confirmed ... that there are no issues with his condition,"[/b] coach Moriyasu told reporters.[/p][p][b]"There is also the friendly against Iceland, which gives him another opportunity to prepare in a ‌high-intensity match and continue raising his condition heading into the ⁠World Cup. That is why we selected him."[/b][/p][embed guid="417a29ad-b949-4a8d-b4cf-f5b9e25e508f" url="https://x.com/jfa_samuraiblue/status/2055158465954480136?s=20" social-type="twitter" /][p]Also ‌selected were Liverpool midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/endo-wataru/r7gln7MG/"]Wataru Endo[/a], who has endured an injury-hit season, while 39-year-old full-back [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nagatomo-yuto/hprzBx6h/"]Yuto Nagatomo[/a] ​gets a chance to go to a fifth World Cup.[/p][p][b]"He has begun working with the ball again ... and is reaching a condition where he can play in ​matches,"[/b] Moriyasu said of Endo.[/p][p][b]"He is a central figure in this team. Of course I expect him to contribute in terms of play ... but I also expect him to support ⁠the team mentally and emotionally."[/b][/p][p]Brighton & Hove ​Albion midfielder [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kaoru-mitoma/faIBBRXl/"]Kaoru Mitoma[/a] did not make the cut due to a hamstring injury sustained against Wolverhampton Wanderers earlier this month.[/p][p][b]"After Mitoma's injury, we received a medical report saying that it would be difficult for him to return during the tournament itself,"[/b] Moriyasu added.[/p][p][b]"Based on that, we ‌gave up on selecting him .. Deciding how to adjust the squad after that was my biggest final consideration."[/b][/p][p]Japan reached the round of 16 at the last two World Cups, losing to Belgium in 2018 and to Croatia, on penalties, in Qatar four years later.[/p][p]Moriyasu, who will be leading the team into his second World Cup as coach, said selecting the squad had been tough.[/p][p][b]"There are still many players who have the ability to compete and win on the world stage for Japan,"[/b] he said.[/p][p][b]"So I honestly feel apologetic about not being able to select them - actually, not just a little apologetic, but deeply apologetic.[/b][/p][p][b]"(But) I feel that ‌I have chosen the best 26 players for Japan to win on the world stage ​right now."[/b][/p][p]Japan will kick off their eighth appearance at the World Cup finals ‌[a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/japan-ULXPdOUj/netherlands-WYintcWb/?mid=4SV9xFBO"]against the Netherlands in Dallas on June 14[/a] before taking on Tunisia on June 20 and Sweden on June 25 in their remaining Group F fixtures.[/p][h2]Full squad[/h2][p][b]Goalkeepers[/b]: [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-zion/4bDDVvmT/"]Zion Suzuki[/a] (Parma), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/hayakawa-tomoki/j7riesZ7/"]Tomoki Hayakawa[/a] (Kashima Antlers), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/osako-keisuke/lj1TfyEN/"]Keisuke Osako[/a] (Hiroshima)[/p][p][b]Defenders[/b]: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/taniguchi-shogo/dbaoFm9A/"]Shogo Taniguchi[/a] (Sint-Truiden), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/itakura-ko/xGFA759a/"]Ko Itakura[/a] (Ajax), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/watanabe-tsuyoshi/SYe5fQkj/"]Tsuyoshi Watanabe[/a] (Feyenoord), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ito-hiroki/4ULsVw9c/"]Hiroki Ito[/a] (Bayern), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/seko-ayumu/W2j0scZO/"]Ayumu Seko[/a] (Le Havre), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sugawara-yukinari/f7AvlM2c/"]Yukinari Sugawara[/a] (Werder Bremen), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-junnosuke/KQMC4fv6/"]Junnosuke Suzuki[/a] (FC Kopenhagen)[/p][p][b]Midfielders/Forwards[/b]: Wataru Endo (Liverpool), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/junya-ito/j9vuLu2S/"]Junya Ito[/a] (Genk), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kamada-daichi/bayITLyE/"]Daichi Kamada[/a] (Crystal Palace), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ogawa-koki/0xFkEenH/"]Koki ⁠Ogawa[/a] (NEC Nijmegen), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/maeda-daizen/6kfQTp18/"]Daizen Maeda[/a] (Celtic), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/doan-ritsu/WUWvT7l3/"]Ritsu Doan[/a] (Eintracht Frankfurt), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/ueda-ayase/8Ssd0upn/"]Ayase Ueda[/a] (Feyenoord), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/tanaka-ao/4lYAoXQu/"]⁠Ao Tanaka[/a] (Leeds United), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/nakamura-keito/ttEUhyfq/"]Keito Nakamura[/a] (Stade Reims), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/sano-kaishu/v13GHQFg/"]Kaishu Sano[/a] (Mainz), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/kubo-takefusa/fqdLdpc3/"]Takefusa ‌Kubo[/a] (Real Sociedad), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/suzuki-yuito/buidOiX4/"]Yuito Suzuki[/a] (Freiburg), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/shiogai-kento/t0LZyS5n/"]Kento Shiogai[/a] (Wolfsburg), [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/goto-keisuke/lESOFKJf/"]Keisuke Goto[/a] (Sint-Truiden)[/p]