Japan Secures Spot in Asian Cup Last 16 with Victory over Indonesia
Japan has secured their place in the last 16 of the Asian Cup after a victory over Indonesia. This means that Wataru Endo, the captain of the team, will be staying in Qatar for at least another week.
Unexpected Loss to Iraq
As the tournament favorites, it was expected that Japan would advance from their group. However, they suffered a surprising 2-1 loss to Iraq in their second group game, raising eyebrows among fans and pundits.
Qualification for the Next Round
Despite the setback, Japan bounced back with a 3-1 win over Indonesia, securing their qualification for the next round. Their next match could potentially be against South Korea on January 31.
Iraq’s dramatic late 3-2 win over Vietnam meant that Japan could only finish second in the group, earning six points from three games.
Potential Opponents in the Next Round
Japan will now face the winner of Group E, which could be Jordan, South Korea, or Bahrain. The Samurai Blue will find out their opponents on Thursday when South Korea faces Malaysia and Jordan plays Bahrain.
Endo’s Performance as Captain
As the captain of the team, Wataru Endo has played the full game in each of Japan’s fixtures. In their first game, a 4-2 win over Vietnam, former Liverpool forward Takumi Minamino scored twice. However, Minamino was left out of the final group match against Indonesia after Japan’s loss to Iraq.
In terms of Endo’s individual performances, he has played well but will be hoping to improve in the knockout phases. He managed to score a consolation goal in injury time during their defeat against Iraq.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu’s side showed improvement in their match against Indonesia, with Feyenoord’s Ayase Ueda scoring twice in their 3-1 victory.
Liverpool Matches Missed by Endo
Due to his participation in the Asian Cup, Wataru Endo has missed several Liverpool matches, including:
- Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool (FA Cup)
- Liverpool 2-1 Fulham (League Cup)
- Bournemouth 0-4 Liverpool
- Fulham vs. Liverpool (League Cup)
Future Matches Endo Will Miss
As Japan progresses to the last 16, Endo will miss the following Liverpool matches:
- Liverpool vs. Norwich (FA Cup)
- Liverpool vs. Chelsea
Potential Final and Further Absences
If Japan reaches the final of the Asian Cup, Endo would also miss the following Liverpool matches:
- Arsenal vs. Liverpool
- Liverpool vs. Burnley