Football: New Japan captain Itakura ready to steady ship after Endo exit

NASHVILLE, Tennessee - New Japan captain Ko Itakura vowed to bring the team together after their preparations for Sunday's World Cup opener against the Netherlands were rattled by the departure of his influential predecessor Wataru Endo.

Following a training session near their base camp in Nashville, Tennessee, Ajax defender Itakura revealed Friday that a meeting involving all the members of the squad, including Endo's replacement, forward Shuto Machino, is expected to be held once they arrive in Dallas later in the day.