The 2-2 draw between Japan and the Netherlands on the morning of June 15 in Group F of the World Cup ended on a major sour note when Takefusa Kubo had to leave the stadium in a wheelchair.
The incident occurred in the 71st minute when the Real Sociedad midfielder attempted to break through the middle. In a fierce challenge, defender Denzel Dumfries’s knee collided heavily with his left leg.
Even though referee Anthony Taylor allowed the match to continue, the Japanese international could not play any further and was forced to leave the field early. After being substituted, Kubo was seen with his knee completely covered in ice and having difficulty moving.
Initially, he walked into the tunnel himself after the match and greeted the fans with a rather relaxed expression. However, real concern erupted for the Asian representatives when journalist Alberto Fernandez shared an image of Kubo leaving the stadium in a wheelchair.
This image raises suspicions of a severe injury, rather than just a regular bruise. Currently, the Japanese national team’s medical staff is conducting in-depth tests to determine the extent of the damage to the 25-year-old star’s left knee ligaments or meniscus.
The “Samurai Blue” will have about a week of rest before entering their next match against Tunisia on June 21. After that will be the clash with Sweden (June 26) in the final round of Group F.
