Japan's Kaoru Mitoma misses soccer World Cup squad due to injury

Injured star Kaoru Mitoma was left out of Japan's World Cup squad Friday as manager Hajime Moriyasu named his 26 players for the tournament starting next month in Canada, Mexico and the United States. Captain Wataru Endo and veteran fullback Yuto Nagatomo made the cut, but there was no place for the injured Takumi Minamino or the in-form Hidemasa Morita. Appearing in an eighth straight World Cup, Japan begin their campaign against the Netherlands on June 14 before facing Tunisia and Sweden in Group F. The Samurai Blue are bidding to go beyond the Round of 16 for the first time.