Endo sends Japan warning ahead of World Cup qualifier

Samurai Blue captain issues stern message to Australia

Japan captain Maya Endo has sent a warning to Australia ahead of their crunch World Cup qualifier on Thursday. The Samurai Blue are currently second in Group B, one point behind the Matildas, and need to win to keep their hopes of automatic qualification alive.

Endo, who plays her club football for Chelsea, is one of the most experienced players in the Japan squad. The 30-year-old has won over 150 caps for her country and was part of the team that won the 2011 World Cup.

Speaking ahead of the match, Endo said that Japan were determined to get the win and qualify for the World Cup. "We know that Australia is a strong team, but we are confident in our ability. We have been working hard in training and we are ready for the challenge.

"We know that we need to win this match to keep our hopes of automatic qualification alive. We are not going to take anything for granted, but we are confident that we can get the job done.

Australia will be tough opponents, but Japan are confident

Australia are currently ranked seventh in the world, one place above Japan. The Matildas have a strong squad, including several players who play in Europe's top leagues.

However, Japan has a good record against Australia, having won three of their last four meetings. Endo believes that Japan's experience will be a key factor in the match.

"We have a lot of experienced players in our team, and we know what it takes to win big matches. We are not going to be intimidated by Australia.

"We are going to go out there and play our game. We are confident that we can get the win and qualify for the World Cup."