DAIZEN MAEDA is ready to spark in the World Cup Finals for Japan – thanks to his Champions League experiences with Celtic.
The pacy forward is looking forward to the showdowns against Germany on Wednesday, Costa Rica four days later and then Spain on December 1 in Group E in the Qatar showpiece.
Maeda didn’t have much success among the European elite with the Hoops losing four and drawing two of their section games before crashing out.
However, the former Yokohoma F Marinos attacker, who has been signed twice by Ange Postecoglou, hopes to put the painful learning process to a good use on the global stage.
The 25-year-old forward, who got the nod to join his nation’s quest in the Middle East while team-mates Kyogo Furuhashi and Reo Hatate were overlooked, told Japanese outlet KKT: “I was able to learn about the world level in the Champions League before the World Cup.
“Even though we didn’t win, I think I got a lot out of it.
“I want to use the experience I gained in the Champions League to help me in this World Cup.
“Celtic didn’t take our chances and the other team did. I don’t think we will have many chances at the World Cup, but we can’t win unless we take that one shot, and I think we can ride the wave if we do, so I want to make every one of them count.”
Maeda added: “I had the impression that the opponents didn’t like our pressing in the Champions League – and we created some chances with it – so I want to continue it at the World Cup.
“If we work hard and score goals, it will help the team a lot, so I want to prepare well.”
