Mitoma misses Japan World Cup squad

Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu left Kaoru Mitoma out of the World Cup squad after medical staff ruled he would not recover in time from a hamstring injury. Moriyasu said the winger's absence was a major loss but insisted Japan would not change its approach.

TOKYO: Japan left winger Kaoru Mitoma out of its 26-man World Cup squad after medical staff concluded he would not recover in time from a hamstring injury, coach Hajime Moriyasu said on Friday.

Mitoma sustained the injury during Brighton's 3-0 Premier League win over Wolves last weekend. The 28-year-old had been expected to be a key figure for Japan, having scored the only goal in the team's 1-0 friendly win over England at Wembley in March.

Moriyasu became emotional while discussing the players who missed selection, speaking before around 300 reporters in Tokyo. He said Mitoma's absence was a significant blow for the team.

I think everyone who has watched Japan play can see that Mitoma is a major presence in the team.

Moriyasu said.

But last year we played Brazil in a friendly and we beat them for the first time, and Mitoma wasn't available to play in that game.

That reflects the team concept, that anyone can come into the lineup and the team still performs.

Japan have been drawn in Group F alongside the Netherlands, Sweden and Tunisia. Their campaign begins against the Dutch in Arlington, Texas on June 14.

Mitoma was one of the standout players in Japan's run at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where the team recorded surprise victories over Germany and Spain before losing to Croatia on penalties in the last 16.

This will hurt him more than it hurts anyone.

Moriyasu said.

I hope once he gets over this, he will recover as quickly as possible and get back to playing with total freedom.

Other absentees and key inclusions

Monaco forward Takumi Minamino was also left out after suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in late December.

Japan did, however, include Ajax defender Takehiro Tomiyasu, despite the fact he has not played for the national side since June 2024 because of injuries. Crystal Palace's Daichi Kamada, Liverpool captain Wataru Endo and Real Sociedad forward Takefusa Kubo were also named in the squad.

Wolfsburg's Kento Shiogai, who earned his first cap in Japan's 1-0 win over Scotland in Glasgow in March, was selected as well. Veteran defender Yuto Nagatomo, 39, was included for what will be his fifth World Cup.

Moriyasu has previously said Japan are targeting the World Cup title, and he said Mitoma's absence had not altered that approach.

The World Cup is a special stage but that doesn't mean we'll do things any differently.

he said.

I believe the World Cup is an extension of the process we've followed up to now, and I tell the players that the process is what matters most.

Japan squad

Goalkeepers: Zion Suzuki (Parma/ITA), Keisuke Osako (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Tomoki Hayakawa (Kashima Antlers)

Defenders: Yuto Nagatomo (FC Tokyo), Shogo Taniguchi (Sint-Truiden/BEL), Ko Itakura (Ajax/NED), Tsuyoshi Watanabe (Feyenoord/NED), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Ajax/NED), Hiroki Ito (Bayern Munich/GER), Ayumu Seko (Le Havre/FRA), Yukinari Sugawara (Werder Bremen/GER), Junnosuke Suzuki (Copenhagen/DEN)

Midfielders/forwards: Wataru Endo (Liverpool/ENG), Junya Ito (Genk/BEL), Daichi Kamada (Crystal Palace/GER), Koki Ogawa (NEC/NED), Daizen Maeda (Celtic/SCO), Ritsu Doan (Eintracht Frankfurt/GER), Ayase Ueda (Feyenoord/NED), Ao Tanaka (Leeds United/ENG), Keito Nakamura (Reims/FRA), Kaishu Sano (Mainz/GER), Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad/ESP), Yuito Suzuki (Freiburg/GER), Kento Shiogai (Wolfsburg/GER), Keisuke Goto (Sint-Truiden/BEL)