Europa League
Ko Itakura substituted before halftime in Japan‑Sweden clash
Japan’s captain Ko Itakura was forced off after 40 minutes of the group match against Sweden, with Shogo Taniguchi replacing him, raising concerns for his club Ajax as the Dutch side prepares for the upcoming official new season on 26 June.
It was Itakura’s 42nd appearance for the Japanese national team, and he wore the captain’s armband against Sweden. He was substituted before the halftime whistle by fellow defender Taniguchi, walking off with a sprint and showing no obvious injury. The encounter was Japan’s final group fixture in the tournament.
The Japan lineup also featured Eredivisie talent. Feyenoord forward Ayase Ueda and former AZ defender Yukinari Sugawara started alongside Itakura.
On the bench for Japan were Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Koki Ogawa, all of whom remained unused during the match.
A potential injury to Itakura is considered bad news for Ajax, who begin their new campaign on Friday 26 June. The Dutch side will also face the early rounds of the UEFA Conference League shortly thereafter.
Last season Itakura featured in 26 matches for Ajax, scoring once. He also missed several periods that campaign due to injuries.