Cyle Larin is flying the Southampton flag high at the 2026 World Cup.
Of course, it was a beautiful moment for Larin and his nation of Canada when the 31-year-old smashed home his country's equaliser against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
But, Larin has the Saints to thank for even being out at the World Cup currently, as a nine-goal loan stint last season at St. Mary's caught Jesse Marsch's eye to select the experienced striker as part of his 26-man squad.
He is now a permanent resident of the South Coast, too, having secured a £2.5m move at the start of June, as Southampton fans continue to cheer on Canada, with the World Cup a gripping watch.
While Southampton supporters will be over the moon for Larin, they won't be feeling much when it comes to Yukinari Sugawara, with the fringe Saints defender also out at the World Cup with Japan.
Sugawara could leave Southampton this summer
You would imagine that the South Coast side would be looking to move Sugawara on this summer.
Indeed, with James Bree just penning an extension, Tonda Eckert's main choice in the right-back spot is sealed, leaving the 25-year-old with little to no gametime.
Lining up 35 times for Southampton during the 2024/25 season, which ended in the gutting blow of relegation to the Championship, Sugawara wasn't completely abject in the Premier League.
Collecting a single goal and assist, the Toyokawa-born full-back was competent, without ever blowing anyone away.
He would be loaned out to Werder Bremen after this single season donning Saints red and white, and he has been a success in Germany, with six assists from 31 appearances.
For all parties involved, therefore, it makes the most sense for Sugawara and Southampton to part ways, so the 25-year-old can continue making a name for himself at Bremen, instead of falling into the background back at St Mary's.
His improved form in the Bundesliga will also mean a club out there will be willing to take a gamble on his services, if Bremen do not make his switch permanent.
A lack of gametime at club level for Southampton would hinder his international opportunities, as well, with the ex-AZ Alkmaar defender no doubt thankful for his Bremen stint, like Larin at the Saints, for gifting him the chance to represent the Samurai Blue on the world's grandest stage.
He has a very ambitious end goal in mind, playing out in the American heat, too, for Hajime Moriyasu's men...
He has an ambitious World Cup goal away from the Saints
Japan will have been considered a dark horse for this year's tournament, when everyone was putting together their predictions for how the 2026 edition of the World Cup would play out.
They certainly lived up to their plucky underdog billing when collecting an impressive 2-2 draw against the Netherlands during their Group F opener, with Sugawara gaining a second-half run-out for his beloved nation.
In the defence that humbled England 1-0 in a friendly before the famed tournament, Sugawara boldly believes that the Samurai Blue can go all the way and win the hotly contested competition.
Speaking to ESPN, ahead of the match versus Ronald Koeman's Oranje, the 25-year-old defiantly said: "We came here to win the World Cup. We didn't just come here for fun."
Japan do stand a great chance of progressing out of their group, with Sweden and Tunisia left to play.
To win the entire competition will take some serious guts, though, as the Japan number two tries to saviour the special occasion, before settling his Southampton future when the month and a bit of international drama ends.
Add us as a preferred source on Google