Both Kyogo and Reo Hatate have been left out of the Japan squad named today for the Qatar World Cup while Daizen Maeda is the only Celtic player who has made the squad. The omission of Kyogo is a huge surprise while Hatate was always a long shot having only recently been called into the full Japan squad but not getting any minutes in the recent friendlies played in Germany.
Many Celtic supporters will be surprised though that if only one Celtic star was going to be selected it would be Maeda over Kyogo. At the weekend both Kyogo and Hatate started for Celtic, with Kyogo scoring the opening goal, while Maeda was left on the bench as an unused substitute.
And if you had to rate the three for their performances so far at Celtic then both Kyogo and Hatate would almost certainly be regarded as having more on an impact that Daizen Maeda.
Perhaps Japan want to exploit Daizen’s pace on the wing?
🍀🇯🇵 Congratulations to @M_daizen_1020 who has been named in Japan's World Cup squad!#CelticFC 🏆 @jfa_samuraiblue https://t.co/wtMDRsCgzk pic.twitter.com/CacLiimqTY
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) November 1, 2022
The upside for Celtic is that both players who have this morning missed out on their World Cup dream will be well rested and ready to go when club football resumes up at Pittodrie in mid-December.
Today’s news though is still a major surprise regarding Kyogo and he’s bound to be devastated. Maybe he’ll take his frustration out on Real Madrid?
Reo Hatate was always an outsider, but very surprised Kyogo Furuhashi hasn’t been selected in Japan’s squad for the World Cup.
No room in a 26-player squad?
Daizen Maeda Celtic’s sole Samurai Blue representative. pic.twitter.com/In8hzmRhLl
— Sacha Pisani (@Sachk0) November 1, 2022
🇯🇵 | Japan World Cup Announcement
Both Kyogo Furuhashi & Reo Hatate have been left out of Hajime Moriyasu’s squad for the World Cup.
Daizen Maeda will be Celtic’s only representative. pic.twitter.com/LXqRnT2K7o
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) November 1, 2022
On a Celtic note, that’s great news for us having a fully charged Reo & Kyogo for the return of the campaign.
It’s just a bit disappointing for those two who I’m sure will see this as a chance to improve with a point to prove! pic.twitter.com/p0ISnM7BjB
— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) November 1, 2022
Excellent news for Celtic,who pay their salaries. They can have a well deserved rest and throw in a nice holiday in Australia,letting our fans down under see them play in the flesh rather than on the tv.Shirt sales will increase with the news that they’ll be playing for Celtic.