Just Four Things: Belgium Vs. Japan

How Do You Describe This?

This World Cup continues to surprise everyone. Germany’s early elimination, Argentina implosion, Russia’s performance and Spain’s fall from grace. You can add this match to that collection. But there are no words to justify only this match.

Japan had Belgium on the backfoot some of the time during the first half and Belgium didn’t turn up at all. What followed after the restart was beyond everyone’s imagination. Japan shocked everyone when Gaku Shibasaki played a through pass (that caught Jan Vertonghen out) to Genki Haraguchi to take the lead. It became even more stunning when Takashi Inui lashed one in to double Japan’s lead. Every Japanese person was in ecstasy and sheer disbelief at that point. Tears must be flowing for them to see their country leading one of the strongest countries in recent years.

But Belgium showed their class when they stormed back to 2-2 that rattled Japan, but the latter still tried to find a way to retake the lead. They kept going and had two chances that had Belgium’s heart stopped for a moment when Osako failed to get at the end of Witsel’s interception and Keisuke Honda’s dipping free-kick saved by Thiabut Courtois in the final minute of stoppage time.

Immediately after that, Belgium break on the counter lead by Kevin De Bruyne, who then passed to Thomas Meunier who was free on the right. Meunier laid a low cross, in which Romelu Lukaku dummied for a much-freer teammate to slot in the winning goal that broke Japan’s hearts. Who were behind these goals that helped Belgium achieved a comeback that has not been seen since 1970?

Subs Made The Difference

Almost everyone must be laughing when Roberto Martinez bought on Marouane Fellaini & Nacer Chadli for Dries Mertens & Yannick Carrasco. Two goals down and Martinez opted to bring on two players that haven’t done anything worthwhile lately. Whatever social media posts mocking these changes clearly didn’t age gracefully.

After Vertonghen redeemed himself to get one back, it was Fellaini who muscled through three players near him to head the equalizer in. Given the stature of Japan’s players, it was unsurprising Fellaini would cause problems with his strong physique. There was only going to be one winner to that cross by Eden Hazard.

Then, an unlikely hero completed the comeback. Having a lackluster season with West Brom, Chadli was one of four runners that countered in the last action of the match. Lukaku looked back for a little bit to see Chadli was coming and no one near him. So the Man. United striker let the cross go for Chadli to tap it in and had the Belgians celebrate like never before. That’s one way to shut the critics up.

Aerial Bombers

It was aerial battles that started the comeback trail for Belgium. Jan Vertonghen headed into the far post from an unbelievable angle and distance. His header dipped just right and somehow Eiji Kawashima didn’t do better to keep that out. Belgium knew what they must do. They kept bombarding the Japan box with crosses and of course they equalized from one of them from Fellaini.

Belgium came extremely close to take the lead when Kawashima vindicated himself with a double save by first saving Chadli’s header and then tipping over Lukaku’s free header only a few seconds afterward. It discomforted Japan as they have trouble to deal with the strong bodies of those Belgium players. While Belgium won the match thanks to the counter-attack, it was the aerial battles that played a huge factor in this match.

Japan Shows The Way

It’s amazing how much perception can change within a few days. Japan’s method to seal qualification was seen as disgraceful, having to just play the ball between their defenders when news broke out Senegal will be the one going out. This was after Japan put out one of the finest displays against the African nation before that farcical match. But Japan showed they can be adventurous going forward. They did that against Senegal and who is to say they can’t do the exact same thing?

It was the end that justified the means for Japan. Here though, they gave a star-studded Belgium side a good run for their money. They gave nothing of the passive tactics that you might expect when facing a team like Belgium. Japan was criticized following that Poland match. But they quickly won back everyone with the flair they displayed and the effort they put in to take it to Belgium. But this was the cruelest way for an underdog team like Japan to go out. Heartbreaking is a severe understatement to emphatize how Japan felt.

But they definitely went down fighting. Just want to say: Arigatou Gozaimasu, Japan for being such a memorable team in this year’s World Cup.

Also, come and sign up for the Tiki-Taka Fiesta Fifa 18 Tournament! Show off your skills as you go up against the best of the best.

Details are as below:

Place : Sungei Wang Plaza

Date : July 7, 2018 (Saturday)

Time : 10:00AM

Cash prizes to be won!

How to register? Just click on the image below!