How Eredivisie top scorer Ueda now has to plot Netherlands' downfall

ARLINGTON, Texas -- From the time he broke through at Kashima Antlers -- Japanese football's most successful club -- at the age of 20, Ayase Ueda showed the raw potential which suggested he could be one of the increasing number of prospects from his country to achieve more than simply playing in the J1 League . He would eventually earn his move to Europe in the summer of 2022 when he signed for Cercle Brugge . Taking no time at all to adapt, a 22-goal haul would see Ueda finish as the second highest-scorer in his first season in the Belgian Pro League . Dutch giants Feyenoord soon came calling. This time, the more-competitive Eredivisie needed an acclimatization period. But after scoring just 12 league goals in his first two campaigns at De Kuip, Ueda finally found his feet last season. - Sugawara: Japan 'came here to win the World Cup, not fun' - Ranking Asia's contenders: Which team