Netherlands vs Japan: After Wataru Endo withdrawal, who stands out for Hajime Moriyasu's side?

Ahead of Netherland's opening fixture of the 2026 FIFA World Cup against Japan, Sports Mole tract coordinator Ben Knapton shares who could basal retired for the Asian broadside aft losing Wataru Endo. 

Wataru Endo's withdrawal from the 2026 World Cup is simply a stroke for Japan, and a achy 1 for the subordinate himself, who has announced his planetary status alongside it.

Mitoma not the lone subordinate missing

Endo is not the lone wounded blow, with Kaoru Mitoma having pulled retired a mates of months agone with a hamstring problem.

Mitoma is the benignant of subordinate who ever makes thing hap for Brighton, and helium volition beryllium missed.

In World Cup qualifying, however, helium was really outshone by 3 of his chap attackers, each of whom accumulated astatine slightest 10 goals oregon assists combined.

Japan's attack: Ueda, Kubo and Ito

Ayase Ueda is the striker astatine the bosom of Japan's plans, having scored 25 Eredivisie goals successful the 2025-26 season, by acold and distant the highest full successful the Dutch apical flight.

Takefusa Kubo has ever been seen arsenic 1 of football's large prodigies, and the Real Sociedad guardant present carries that anticipation into the biggest signifier of his career.

Junya Ito, who plays for Genk successful Belgium, is 33, but shone for Japan passim World Cup qualifying.

Maeda finds apical cogwheel astatine the close time

Daizen Maeda of Celtic is simply a Japanese stalwart who has been a accordant attacking beingness for the nationalist squad for respective years.

He went 17 games without a extremity betwixt January and April of the home season, but past scored 9 times successful his past 7 matches arsenic Celtic pushed hard for the title.

He comes into the World Cup successful spectacular form.

Sano: the Wembley standout who steps into the void

Away from the attackers, Endo is simply a important loss, but Kaishu Sano of Mainz is the midfielder who showed his prime astir intelligibly erstwhile Japan bushed England astatine Wembley, wherever helium was the standout performer connected the night.

He is simply a relentless beingness successful the mediate of the park, a consenting runner and a dual victor successful the tackle.

Sano played each azygous infinitesimal of the Bundesliga play and helped Mainz scope the quarterfinals of the Conference League.

He has been linked with a interest of astir 50 million, with Manchester United seemingly among the funny parties, though it is not wide however steadfast that nexus is.

Veteran left-back Yuto Nagatomo would beryllium a astonishment starter, but helium becomes the archetypal Japanese subordinate to person been named successful 5 World Cup squads – a landmark for the state and for Asian football.