Injured Premier League winger Kaoru Mitoma was left out of Japan’s World Cup squad on Friday in a major blow to their chances of progressing beyond the last 16 for the first time.
The 28-year-old picked up a hamstring injury during Brighton’s 3-0 win over Wolves in the EPL last weekend.
“The medical team assessed that it will be difficult for him to return to fitness during the tournament,” coach Hajime Moriyasu said in naming his squad in Tokyo.
Monaco forward Takumi Minamino also missed out after tearing a ligament in his left knee at the end of December.
Moriyasu, who will be leading the team in his second World Cup as a coach, said that the selection of the squad was difficult.
“There are still many players who have the ability to compete and win on the world stage for Japan,” he said.
