Rio Ferdinand reckons Daizen Maeda was playing like a man possessed in Japan's clash with Croatia - while Alan Shearer says he was a "nightmare" for his opponents.
Maeda scored the opening goal of the last 16 clash in the World Cup as the Celtic star netted only his second goal for his country. It was a reward for the hard work he put in and Ferdinand said during BBC coverage at half-time: "He's been an absolute livewire. That's only his second international goal but he's looked like a man possessed up there. He was running around, making it difficult. With and without the ball he is a nuisance. He closed the goalkeeper down (in the first minute of the game) and you know you are in for it now.
"That's a catalyst for the others to press behind him. He's always on the move and he just drifts behind the centre-back."
Fellow pundit Alan Shearer added: "He's been a nightmare for them at the back. He's got too much energy for them."
Speaking after the goal lead commentator Guy Mowbray said: "Maeda gets his goal! All the effort and endeavour that he has put into this World Cup has just paid off. It's the Celtic man who scores for Japan!"
And co-commentator Jermaine Jenas, who had earlier criticised his lack of goals, added: "He's there, he's alive, he's waiting for it to drop and he sticks it into the back of the net. Right place, right time for Maeda. Maeda's getting a lot of love from the players for all the hard work he's put in and he's got the goal as a reward."
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