Ange Postecoglou has reminded the World Cup of "world class" Daizen Maeda.
The Australian former Celtic manager signed the 28-year-old for the Scottish Premiership champions back in 2022 and knows more than most how well he can perform.
The Japanese internationalist has done well at the tournament this summer and put in another shift in the knockout round against Brazil in the first-half of their clash in Houston this evening.
And speaking on STV's coverage of the action in the studios, Postecoglou explained how Maeda's pressing in particular is a danger to the Samba superstars and can cause any club or nation problems.
"This is the bit that is going to be crucial now, don't sit back," Postecoglou said at half-time in the game. "Japan have been in this position before. 2018 against Belgium 2-0 up, Croatia 2022 1-0 up.
"If they press at the right times like this they will make it very difficult for Brazil. You can't do it for 45 minutes at that tempo but I've coached Maeda and I've said it before, this guy is absolutely world class at this.
"It may seem like a small thing but his pressing ability... just watch him close down space. He takes a touch and before you know it he's on the ball. If they can keep that intensity up at different moments and regulate it, they're going to make it awfully hard."
Japan led 1-0 at half-time but, at the time of writing, are locked at 1-1.
Maeda scored the goal for Japan which sent them through to the knockouts in a 1-1 draw with Benjamin Nygren's Sweden last week.
