I appreciate this one may appear somewhat hypocritical considering my frustration that Anthony Ralston wasn’t included in the Scotland squad, however when Japan kicked off against Australia this morning and Reo Hatate’s backside was plonked on the substitutes bench it was something of a relief.
Japanese based journalist Dan Orlowitz kindly kept Celtic fans abreast of the news via social media, as he so often does, and despite of course being happy for Hatate’s involvement by way of his call-up and place in the match-day squad for Japan’s crunch qualifier with Australia, it was good to hear his time on the field in this one was expected to be limited.
In the end Hatate proved a lucky charm, as despite not being involved today, his call up was still one to remember. As it was for his absent Japanese teammates watching on – as Japan produced a late, late show to score twice through Kaoro Mitoma in the 89th and 94th minutes of the match to defeat their qualification rivals 2-0 and ensure Japan’s qualification for Qatar, and with it confirm Japan qualification for their seventh successive World Cup, quite the achievement and something a delighted Kyogo Furuhashi took to social media to celebrate –
— Kyogo Furuhashi 古橋 亨梧 (@Kyogo_Furuhashi) March 24, 2022
Hatate has been an inspired January signing, and having already produced one ‘skelping Glasgow Derby performance, he’ll be a player we’d all count on being in the starting line-up at Ibrox on 3 April.
The chances of that occurring can only be strengthened if the Japanese playmaker limits his time playing for in the international break, yet with Japan having now qualified you can almost guarantee a first cap will now be likely with Japan due to play Vietnam on Tuesday morning. And fair play to him, after all it’s a hell of a long journey to undertake just to watch on from the sidelines.
It’s been a long hard slog for Celtic’s signings from Japan, as they all signed for Celtic having completed a full domestic campaign back home, before arriving at Celtic as the most intense part of the season was due to arise.
Now for Hatate, Furuhashi and Maeda there is plenty reason to maintain their levels of form in the closing stages of the season, with not only a Treble to aim for but now a place in a World Cup finals squad to use as inspiration. And with Yosuke Ideguchi now back to full fitness there may even be an opportunity for Celtic to have four Japanese representatives at the World Cup. That would be a remarkable story.
Niall J
David Potter’s new book, Willie Fernie – Putting on The Style will be out shortly on Celtic Star Books and you can pre-order below…
