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Japan starting line up highlights Moriyasu’s Kyogo snub

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Image for Japan starting line up highlights Moriyasu’s Kyogo snub

As Japan are set to kick off against Uruguay in about thirty minutes time, many Celtic fans will be turned off from watching the match due to the exclusion of Reo Hatate and Kyogo Furuhashi.

There was a flurry of interest in the match due to the call up of Daizen Maeda, but news that he missed training has meant there is little to no interest in how the result will go.

But the announcement of the starting lineup peaked my interest and I thought I would look at the striker being named in the team and see just who it is that is keeping Kyogo out of the team.

I have to say, I was left seriously underwhelmed.

Hajime Moriyasu has opted to play Takuma Asano in today’s fixture against Uruguay.

Asano plays for Bundesliga side Vfl Bochum and has made eighteen appearances so far this season.

He has scored just two goals and created one.

Bochum currently sit 14th in the Bundesliga just four points from safety.

Compare that to Kyogo who has scored 26 goals this season and is going for his second Scottish championship and has created five assists, Moriyasu’s choice is a bit of a head scratcher.

And yes, I know, Asano plays in a league with better quality but surely it should be form that dictates who plays for the national side and not where you play?

Clearly not.

It will be interesting to see how Japan get on in this international break and whether or no Moriyasu will be vindicated in his choice to leave out Hatate and Kyogo with two wins, or be vilified for lacking foresight in choosing two players who are on red hot form.

I will be leaving Vital Celtic today to join John McGinley and Hamish Carton on 67 Hail Hail from Monday the 27th of March.

If you know your history: Martin O’Neill

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