SOCCER: Japan's Minamino to support World Cup campaign in mentor role

Takumi Minamino will remain part of Japan’s World Cup campaign despite recovering from a serious knee injury, taking on a mentor role within the squad and pledging to provide maximum support.

The Japan international suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee while playing for AS Monaco in December, an injury that typically requires six to nine months of recovery and ruled him out of competing at the finals.

The 31-year-old’s absence is a significant setback for Japan. The former Liverpool FC player has earned 73 caps and scored 26 goals for the Samurai Blue.

Minamino was a key contributor during Japan’s qualification campaign but will now serve in a non-playing capacity, supporting the team with experience and leadership from the sidelines.

“Before anything, I’m happy I could join this group,” Minamino said, as quoted by Kyodo News. “Lots of people helped me get here, and I’m hoping to give my maximum support to the team by offering my personal experience and coming up with my own approach.”

“As expected, the first few weeks were tough. Injuries are part and parcel of being an athlete, but the timing of it and, of course, there was that emotion I had for this World Cup,” he added.

His role reflects a growing trend in international football teams valuing off-field leadership as much as on-field performance. Martin Boyle has taken a similar position with Australia, while Japan will also rely on former captain Maya Yoshida in a support capacity.

Head coach Hajime Moriyasu leads Japan into their eighth consecutive World Cup appearance, buoyed by strong recent performances and optimism about reaching the later stages of the tournament.

Japan have been drawn in Group F alongside Netherlands, Sweden, and Tunisia. They will open their campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 at Dallas Stadium. -Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in BengaluruEditing by Ed Davies/Reuters