🚨Thierry Henry on Japan honoring Wataru Endō after their 2-2 draw with the Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
🗣️ “To be honest, this is why football is different from any other sport in the world.
People will talk about the goals.
People will talk about the 2-2 draw.
But the image that will stay with me is that Wataru Endō shirt.
Football can be beautiful, but it can also be cruel.
Imagine dedicating your entire life to representing your country at a World Cup and then having that dream taken away by injury just before the tournament begins.
That is heartbreaking.
When I saw the Japanese players holding up his shirt, I didn’t just see a gesture.
I saw a team playing for one of their own.
I saw loyalty.
I saw brotherhood.
I saw players telling a teammate, ‘You may not be on the pitch, but you’re still with us.’
Those moments cannot be coached.
They come from the heart.
And that’s why they mean so much.
People always ask what wins football matches.
Sometimes it’s tactics.
Sometimes it’s talent.
But sometimes it’s emotion.
Sometimes it’s playing for something bigger than yourself.
Japan showed that tonight.
Every run, every tackle, every duel felt like they were carrying Endō with them.
And let me tell you, teams that have that kind of connection become very dangerous.
Because when eleven players are fighting for each other and for a shared purpose, they can achieve things nobody expects.
Tonight wasn’t just a 2-2 draw against the Netherlands.
It was a reminder of what football is really about.
And that’s why this game will always be special.”
{@MailSport }
🚨 Aston Villa have identified Zion Suzuki as a potential replacement for Emiliano Martínez if the Argentine leaves this summer. 🇯🇵
The 23-year-old Parma goalkeeper is admired by Villa and is firmly on their radar as they assess possible options between the posts. 👀
(Source: Fabrizio Romano)
🌎 For those who don't know, Suzuki was:
🇺🇸 Born in the United States
🇯🇵 His mother is from Japan
🇬🇭 His father is from Ghana
🚨🔵 BREAKING: Joško Gvardiol deal, done and confirmed as he signs new contract at Manchester City.
Agreement until June 2031 and move to Spain off for this summer.
Seen as key player by director Viana and new coach Enzo Maresca.
Virgil van Dijk on Wataru Endō after Japan’s 2-2 draw with the Netherlands national football team:
🗣️ “I have to say, that moment with Endō’s shirt left on the bench… it was emotional. Even as an opponent, you could feel the weight of it.
To hear he withdrew from the squad due to injury and then announced his retirement on the eve of the World Cup that’s heartbreaking. No player deserves that. Not after all the years of sacrifice and discipline it takes to reach this stage.
When you step out on that pitch and you know a teammate like that should have been there, it changes something in the atmosphere. You feel it in the dressing room, you feel it during the match, and you definitely feel it after the final whistle.
What Japan did tonight by keeping his jersey with them wasn’t just respect—it was love. It showed how much he means to that group, not just as a player but as a leader.
As a footballer, you understand how fragile these moments are. One injury, one twist of fate, and a dream can disappear right before your eyes. That’s the cruel side of this game people don’t always see.
So when I saw that shirt on the bench, I didn’t see a symbol of absence. I saw a reminder of what they’re fighting for.
And honestly, teams that carry that kind of emotion with them… they become very dangerous. Very united. Very hard to break down.
Tonight wasn’t just about a 2-2 draw. It was about a team playing with someone in their hearts who couldn’t be on the pitch with them.”