Celts in Qatar: Three Through, One to Go

Congratulations to Josip Juranovic who this afternoon helped Croatia qualify for the round of 16 knock-out round in the World Cup in Qatar after a goalless draw against highly rated Belgium – a result that means Belgium join the likes of Denmark on suffering a shock early exit and this evening it could be Germany’s turn!

Josip Juranovic fights for the ball with Yannick Carrasco during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group F match between Croatia and Belgium at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Al-Rayyan, west of Doha on December 1, 2022. (Photo by OZAN KOSE/AFP via Getty Images)

Josip Juranovic isn’t the first Celtic star to make it through to the World Cup round of 16. Actually he’s not the second either, he’s actually the third after Cameron Carter-Vickers set the qualification pace for the Bhoys in Qatar qualifying with the United States.

Cameron Carter-Vickers in control of things against Iran.

It will be a Cameron Carter-Vickers versus former Celt Virgil van Dijk in the knock-out match when the United States take on Netherlands and we’ll be using free bet bonuses to make sure we back the Celtic stars in all the knock-out matches.

Aaron Mooy celebrates winning the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group D match between Australia and Denmark at the Al-Janoub Stadium in Al-Wakrah, south of Doha on November 30, 2022. (Photo by CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

The second Celt to through was Aaron Mooy with the Socceroos after a 1-0 win over Denmark yesterday sent the Danes to the airport and Australia into the round of 16 where they will play Argentina.

And this afternoon Josip Juranovic made it three Celts through from three helping Croatia get the point they needed and he’ll find out shortly the opponents Croatia will face in the round of 16.

Celtic attention now turns to Daizen Maeda who could make it four from four Celtic players at the World Cup to make it through the Group stages. Can Daizen do it and make it a 100% record for our Bhoys?

Daizen Maeda scores a goal from an offside position during the Qatar 2022 World Cup Group E match between Germany and Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha on November 23, 2022. (Photo by ANNE-CHRISTINE POUJOULAT/AFP via Getty Images)

We will find out this evening where the games in Group E look certain to be dramatic. Japan, on three points and currently in second spot in the group take on leaders Spain, on four points. Meanwhile Costa Rica also have three points and they face Germany with just one point from two games. However if Germany win by two clear goals then a draw will be no use for Japan who will really need to beat Spain or hope that a draw will be enough – which only happens if both games end level.

So Japan, who have already shocked Germany in the opening fixture, need to repeat the trick against Spain and maybe Celtic star Daizen Maeda will be the man who grabs the glory and sends both Germany and Costa Rica to the airport for early flights home!

Daizen Maeda of Japan scores a goal later ruled offside during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

So can Daizen Maeda make it four from four for Celtic? And can any of the four Celtic players in Qatar make it through to the quarter-finals and maybe even beyond that stage? Maybe Josip Juranovic is the most likely but don’t rule out Cameron Carter-Vickers doing it as well. Aaron Mooy’s chances may well be more remote but you never know at this most unpredictable of World Cups and experience tells you never to write off the Socceroos!

Maybe Daizen Maeda will step up and stine on the big stage starting this evening to bring World Cup glory to Japan, who incidentally really should have had Celtic stars Kyogo and Reo Hatate in their squad.

The very best of luck this evening to Daizen!