Jun Endo grabs the eye straight away.
First, it’s the Japan winger’s pink hair. Next, her fast strikes, agility and the curling left-foot crosses. These have made her a fan favourite at California membership Angel City FC.
Look for her to get related consideration when Japan opens within the Women’s World Cup in Group C towards Zambia. Spain and Costa Rica are additionally within the New Zealand-based group.
“She creates an expectation that something will happen when she has the ball,” Japan coach Futoshi Ikeda advised The Associated Press. “She is a player who is trying new things in search of her own development in the league in the United States.”
Endo performed on Japan’s 2019 World Cup crew, which was knocked out within the spherical of 16; a disappointment for a rustic that received the 2011 Women’s World Cup and was the runner-up in 2015.
In an interview with the AP, Endo described herself as “rookie” on that 2019 crew.
“I picked up some minutes but I really didn’t show as well as I wished,” she mentioned. “This time I feel I have to show more of the experience I have gained over four years. I want to be an example to the younger players.”
Endo mentioned she has discovered to specific herself – on and off the sphere – taking part in two seasons with Angel City. She performed beforehand in Japan’s new WE League. She mentioned it’s tougher to stay out in Japan, which frequently values conformity over creativity.
She could have been referring to an expression in Japanese that sums up the problem.
“Deru kugi wa utareru.” Roughly translated, it means the nail that sticks up will get hammered down.
“When I came to Los Angeles and started looking, walking on the streets, I saw that freedom to be yourself without being looked at,” Endo mentioned. “Japanese society on the whole is not like that. That doesn’t mean I disrespect anybody in a different culture, but I love expressing myself.”
The hair and her untiring type of play turned her right into a near-celebrity participant in Los Angeles, which she mentioned she didn’t intend or foresee. The hair she mentioned was extra of a style assertion, however it transitioned to the soccer area.
“I simply like making changes and having fun. I’m into fashion, hairstyle,” the 23-year-old Endo mentioned. “I didn’t consider myself once I arrived at Angel City because the Energizer-Bunny sort of participant. But now I’m usually advised I play like I’m having enjoyable, and I’m having fun with it.
“Compared with how I played in Japan, I am enjoying it more. But there is also something about becoming more mature and thinking how I can support my teammates as a leader.”
Endo was a success from the beginning. In Angel City’s first sport – a 2-1 victory over the North Carolina Courage – she had an help and a aim.
Her solely setback has been an injured left knee, which she mentioned is nearly again to full energy.
Endo’s childhood was marred by upheaval. She grew up in northeastern Fukushima prefecture. She was a toddler in 2011 when a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, tsunami, and the meltdown of three nuclear reactors took the lives of hundreds.
Her household lived inland and the affect was not as nice, however she has mentioned in interviews that she was not allowed to go outdoors for a yr. Endo watched on tv in 2011 as Japan beat the United States on penalties after a 2-2 draw within the title sport.
Roughly a dozen gamers on Japan’s crew this time – Endo included – performed for Ikeda when he coached nationwide under-20 groups. The under-20 crew in 2018 received the world title, and the 2022 squad was the runner-up. Both finals had been towards Spain.
Endo repeated a number of occasions her rising confidence to specific herself on the sphere. To take an opportunity, which she urged Japan’s ladies must do to compete. The Japanese are well-known for his or her ball abilities, however she mentioned the crew may want extra aggression regardless of usually being smaller than the opposition.
“Individual players have to pick up the intensity, have that added hunger to score goals or to win that 50-50 ball,” she mentioned. “Japan is barely missing that.
“Compared to Japanese in general, other players in other countries tend to take their chance and take a big swing at it. Not being afraid to take a shot or take a chance. Japan will need that.”
Look for it to come back from Jun Endo.
Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com