🚨Jurgen Klopp on Takumi Minamino showing live yet again to Endo wataru after their 4-0 victory against Tunisia.
🗣️“This is how football sport is all about, the memories and experiences you had together with your teammates, people come go in every team but the memories stood inside your head for years, when saw Takumi Minamino with the jersey of Endo wataru again I felt emotional.
It took me back to some beautiful days at Liverpool, at the Axa and many More lovely times I shared with each of them, they love one another and respect each other as it’s deserve to be.
Wataru Endo might have retired from the National team but his legacy will always be remembered, the incredible and inspiring moments he shared with his teammates will always remain in their hearts. He will be with them till the end of the tournament.”
Zlatan Ibrahimović on Japan's dominant 4-0 victory over Tunisia at the World Cup:
🗣️ “People need to stop calling Japan a surprise package. At some point, when you keep producing performances like this, you're no longer a surprise you're a serious contender.”
“A 4-0 win at the World Cup is not normal. You don't destroy teams by accident. You do it because you have quality, organization, confidence, and players who know exactly what they're doing.”
“What impresses me most is the way they play. There is no fear, no hesitation, no respect for reputations. They attack with intensity, defend as a unit, and make life miserable for every opponent.”
“Before the tournament started, everyone was talking about the traditional favourites. But match after match, Japan are quietly forcing their way into that conversation.”
“If I'm one of the big nations watching this performance, I'm worried. Very worried. Because Japan look like a team that is improving with every game they play.”
“The scary thing is that they don't look satisfied. Even at 3-0, even at 4-0, they keep pressing, keep running, and keep searching for more. That's the mentality of a team that believes it can achieve something special.”
“You can have all the star players in the world, but if you come up against a team playing with this level of discipline and confidence, you're going to suffer.”
“Right now, Japan are slowly becoming one of the favourites to win this World Cup. Some people won't like hearing that, but football doesn't care about reputations it cares about performances.”
“And trust me, any team that gets drawn against Japan in the next round won't be celebrating. They'll be wondering how they're supposed to stop them.”
🚨Virgil van Dijk on Japan players displaying Wataru Endō’s jersey after the 2-2 draw against the Netherlands at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:
🗣️ “That moment after the final whistle showed exactly why football is more than just a game.
Seeing the Japanese players display Wataru Endō’s jersey was powerful.
It showed unity, respect and the strength of their dressing room.
I know Wataru personally and I know what he means to Japanese football.
He’s a leader, a fighter and someone who gives everything for his country every single time he steps onto the pitch.
Whether he was on the field or not, his presence was felt throughout the match.
You could see the team playing for something bigger than themselves.
That’s one of the reasons Japan are such a difficult team to play against.
They work for each other, they sacrifice for each other and they never stop believing.
The gesture from the players was a reminder of the respect they have for Endō and everything he has done for Japanese football.
As opponents, we respect that.
As footballers, we understand that.
It was a special moment and one that showed the values football should always represent.”
{@TNTSportsUS }