Celtic players Daizen Maeda and Josip Juranovic swapped shirts after Croatia knocked Japan out of the World Cup on penalties.

The Hoops forward scored in the first-half of the match, but a second-half strike from the Croats was enough to take the game to extra time.

Neither team could be separated during the additional 30 minutes, so they game was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout.

Juranovic's side won it 3-1, meaning they progress to take on the winners of Brazil versus South Korea in the quarter-finals.

At full-time, the two embraced and with Maeda visibly upset, his Parkhead team-mate gave him a kiss on the head for reassurance.

 

Both men have played well at the tournament in Qatar and the former Yokohama F Marinos forward was keen to credit Ange Postecoglou for improving his game.

Speaking to the Japanese outlet Soccer King, he said: “Of course, as a forward, I always want to score goals, but if I do it for the team, the ball will come one day, as coach [Ange Postecoglou] always says at Celtic.

"If you’re doing it for the team, you’ll get a chance, including a spilled ball.

"If I believe in that and run, I think it will come someday.”

The former Yokohama F Marinos player also explained the importance of the team sticking together in their upcoming match and that despite his constant pressing, he does not feel tired.

 “I don’t know if it’s a lot or a little, but I think it’s necessary if it helps the team," he continued.

"I don’t feel like I’m running out of gas like that, so I’m going as far as I can go.

“Even if I’m playing alone, I’ll be left out, so I’m addicted to it because the team is following me, and I think we’re able to play these kinds of matches because we’re playing tactics as a team, we’re challenging, and we’re successful.”

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