Feyenoord defender Tsuyoshi Watanabe has withdrawn from the Japan national team squad ahead of the upcoming Kirin Cup fixtures due to an injury, the Japan Football Association (JFA) officially announced. The 29-year-old center-back will miss matches against Ecuador and a subsequent fixture against either Panama or New Zealand, returning early to Rotterdam to be evaluated by his club staff.
While foreign media outlets have reported that the defender is dealing with a knee issue, the JFA’s official statements did not specify the exact nature of the injury or outline a definitive recovery timeline.
Watanabe Misses Upcoming Kirin Cup Matches
The defender’s withdrawal rules him out of Japan’s scheduled Kirin Cup matches in October. Japan is set to face Ecuador on Thursday, October 1, in Kanagawa, followed four days later by a second tournament fixture in Tokyo against either Panama or New Zealand. Watanabe will play no part in either contest.
During the current international window prior to his withdrawal, Watanabe sat on the bench for the entirety of a 3-1 friendly victory over Uruguay, but played the full ninety minutes in a 2-1 win against Venezuela, according to match reports from 1908.nl. To offset his absence, head coach Hajime Moriyasu and the technical staff have called up Henry Hiroki Mochizuki from FC Machida Zelvia to join the squad.
Impact on Feyenoord’s Defensive Line
The setback arrives as a notable blow for Feyenoord manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Watanabe has established himself as a vital presence in the Rotterdam squad, starting every match he has been available for this season. His only absence prior to the international break came during the opening league fixture against Sparta Rotterdam due to an earlier physical issue.
Feyenoord is scheduled to resume Eredivisie play on October 10 with a fixture against AZ. As of the JFA’s announcement, neither the national governing body nor Feyenoord’s medical staff has clarified what the injury means for Watanabe’s availability for that domestic restart, leaving his status for the upcoming league match unconfirmed.
