Daizen Maeda says he is heading into this World Cup with far more confidence than he had four years ago, after finishing the season in strong scoring form for Celtic. The forward said he believes that run has left him well prepared for Japan’s opener against the Netherlands on Sunday.
Maeda ended the season with nine goals in his last seven games for Celtic, a burst that helped drive an unexpected title win and Scottish Cup triumph. Now at Japan’s Nashville training base, he is trying to carry that momentum into his second World Cup with Japan.
The difference this time, Maeda said, is not just the goals. Four years ago, he made the previous World Cup squad at the very last minute and felt the tournament was over in a flash. This time he says he has already done the work, and that matters because he is not trying to force one fixed role into Japan’s plans.
He wants to show his strengths wherever he is used and said he is comfortable as a second striker or on the wing. That gives Japan options in a group that also includes Tunisia and Sweden, and it is part of why Maeda sounds so sure of himself now: he says the team has built a solid foundation and can make an impact.
What remains unresolved is how much of that confidence translates into minutes on the pitch against the Netherlands. Maeda’s club form has earned him a louder voice in the build-up, but Japan will still have to decide whether his next contribution comes from the middle or the flank, and that call could shape the opening match as much as his recent scoring touch.
