The curtain has fallen on Wataru Endo's international career in heartbreaking fashion, with Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu revealing he personally made the devastating decision to exclude the Liverpool midfielder from their World Cup squad.

Endo's dreams of representing his country at the showpiece tournament across Canada, United States and Mexico were crushed by the ankle injury he suffered in February during Liverpool's 1-0 victory over Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. That match proved to be his only Premier League start of last season, and ultimately the moment that ended his hopes of captaining Japan at the World Cup.

The 31-year-old had fought desperately to return in time for the tournament, managing to feature against Iceland on May 31st in what would prove to be his final appearance for the Samurai Blue. However, Moriyasu felt compelled to make the brutal call that Endo simply wasn't ready for the rigours of World Cup football.

"As the head coach, I was the one who made the final decision," Moriyasu explained. "I'd been receiving reports from the medical staff. During the game with Iceland, he was not able to perform on the pitch for a long time."

The Japan manager's assessment was clinical but painful. Despite Endo's best efforts and the medical team's support, concerns remained about his ability to contribute meaningfully throughout the tournament. "We discussed that throughout the World Cup, it may be difficult for him to perform for the entire period of the games, therefore I made the final decision looking at his condition," Moriyasu added.

Even for a man used to making tough decisions, this one clearly weighed heavily on Moriyasu. "It felt really bad for me to give him such a message. Of course, it's impossible to know exactly how he felt or know what his thoughts were, but he was very understanding and respectful and we could maintain our good conversation in a cool manner."

Endo's response to the crushing news was typically dignified. In an emotional social media post on Thursday evening, he announced not just his World Cup absence but his complete retirement from international football. "As announced, I will be stepping away from the World Cup squad. Since my injury, I've done everything I possibly could up to this point, so I have no regrets whatsoever," he wrote.

The midfielder's message carried the grace of a true captain even in defeat. "Of course, there's frustration at not being able to participate in this World Cup, but more than that, I'm proud of how we've grown together since the Qatar World Cup - me as captain, leading this team and turning our goal of 'winning the World Cup' into something we can say as a matter of course."

Endo's faith in his teammates remained unshakeable despite his personal disappointment. "The current team is truly a wonderful team. I believe they will overcome any adversity and show us sights we've never seen before," he declared, before confirming the end of an era: "With this campaign, I will be retiring from the national team."

From Liverpool's perspective, this bitter pill comes with a silver lining. Endo will now be available for the Reds' pre-season tour to the United States next month under new head coach Andoni Iraola, giving him crucial preparation time after a frustrating campaign that saw him largely marginalised at Anfield.

The midfielder's closing words to his country carried the dignity that has defined his career: "The moment when the Japan national team wins the World Cup will surely come someday. Let's believe in that and cheer them on together."

As Japan prepare to face the Netherlands in their World Cup opener, they'll do so without their captain but with his unwavering support from afar. For Liverpool, they'll welcome back a player whose international chapter has closed but whose Anfield story might just be ready for a fresh beginning.