After a deeply frustrating second season with Manchester United, attacking midfielder Shinji Kagawa admitted he was both delighted and relieved to be named to Japan's 23-man squad for the World Cup finals in Brazil on Monday — after learning of the news from a cabin attendant on his flight into Tokyo.
"It wasn't announced on the plane, a regular cabin attendant gave me the message (via the pilot)," Kagawa told reporters after landing in at Haneda airport. "Quite simply I am relieved. But (just) being a member of the team is not my goal. My aim is to deliver results."
"I was really disappointed about missing out (on a place in the squad four years ago) in South Africa and went to Germany (to join Borussia Dortmund) to improve myself," said Kagawa, who was among a handful of young non-squad players that traveled with the team to the 2010 finals to gain experience.