Japan captain Wataru Endo was ruled out of the World Cup with injury and announced his international retirement on Thursday, three days before his team's opener against the Netherlands.

Japan captain Wataru Endo is in a race to be fit for their World Cup opener against the Netherlands on Sunday, leaving coach Hajime Moriyasu "praying" he makes it.

Spurs are just two points behind Liverpool and claimed an impressive 2-2 draw away to Arsenal last weekend.

Liverpool's attempts to sign Brighton's Moises Caicedo and Southampton's Romeo Lavia failed, with both players joining Premier League rivals Chelsea.

Stuttgart's Japan midfielder Wataru Endo is completing a "dream" move to Liverpool, the Bundesliga club revealed on Thursday