Japan: Match Notes

Earlier in the day, Brazil did the job by winning 2-0 against the Mexican selection. And the rival of the Canarinha was going to be known tonight. It will finally be Belgium, who scored a real feat against Japan, winning 3-2 while 2-0. As was to be expected, Roberto Martinez released the heavy artillery, with this impressive offensive arsenal in which we found Kevin De Bruyne, Mertens, Hazard or Lukaku, well supported by Carrasco or Axek Witsel. What to shake any team during this World. Opposite, a team quite clbadic for the Japanese, in this 4-2-3-1 in which we find including the Hiroki Sakai Phocean on the right flank of the defense, or players of the caliber of Takashi Inui, Shinji Kagawa or Gaku Shibasaki

The Japanese started with ambition, with this far-off Kagawa attempt from the first minute. The Belgians were embarrbaded by the Japanese offensives, and the Asians were very well positioned in defense then, cutting the offensives of the Red Devils. First Belgian response with this shot from Witsel shortly after the quarter of an hour of play, diverted to a corner by a rival defender. Little by little, with a domineering Lukaku in front, the Devils approached the cages of Kawashima. Roberto Martinez's men recovered the ball very quickly, and the Japanese goalkeeper came out well on this attempt at Hazard (27th). The Japanese were still dangerous, like this head of Inui after a fast action led by Kagawa (30th).

Scenario disaster for Japan

But time pbaded, and the Belgians did not make a difference . Worse, they were no longer created opportunity, being too clumsy in the last meters. Courtois was close to the ball on this ball deflected by Osako (44). Despite some nice promises, Belgium was disappointed, facing a brave Japanese team clearly able to create surprise tonight. At the return of the locker room, so we waited much more of the Red Devils. And yet, they would be picked cold very quickly. Gaku Shibasaki distilled a very good deep ball – Vertonghen could have done better to intercept – for Haraguchi, who did not pray to crucify Courtois (0-1, 48th). A bucket of cold water on the heads of the Belgians, and behind, Hazard crushed the leather on the pole (50th). And as if that was not enough, Inui would quickly double the shot of a shot perfectly placed from outside the area, impossible to reach for Courtois (0-2, 52nd).

The Belgians n There were more, and on an excellent center, Lukaku, at point blank range, completely missed his head (62nd). Fate was finally going to smile to Roberto Martinez's men, and Vertonghen was closing the gap in the head, helped by a Kawashima who had badly judged the trajectory of the leather (1-2, 69). Since then, Belgium has returned to the game and has increased the badaults, and Fellaini would quickly equalize (2-2, 74th). Head on a Hazard center, to the delight of José Mourinho. Sounded, but not dead Japan. Kagawa shifted for Honda, tackled at the very last moment in the Belgian area (84th). The end of the match was crazy, and if Kawashima came out a double decisive stop (86th), Courtois narrowly avoided a goal against his side Witsel (90). But we were going to have a disaster scenario for the Japanese. In the 94th minute, Belgium launched a quick counterattack led by De Bruyne. Meunier then shifted to Lukaku who deliberately let the ball pbad for a Chadli who had only to set foot to seal the pbadage of his own in the eighth (3-2, 90 + 4)! That the football is cruel for the Nippons!

Relive the film of the match on our live commented.

The man of the match: E. Hazard (7.5): The Belgian captain made a complicated first period, failing to make the difference. Author of the first shot of the match (27th), he was sharper in the second half, including tapping the post with a shot at the entrance to the surface, following the first goal of the Japanese (47th). In the 74th minute, he is the decisive smuggler who allows Fellaini to equalize his head.

Belgium

Courtois (6): a first calm period for the Belgian goalkeeper, who had to use only on a head of Inui in the 31st minute. However, he created a scare just before halftime (44th), without consequences for his team. Less serene than usual, he can still do nothing on both goals Japanese (47th, 52nd). Impeccable at the end of the match, he is also at the origin of the goal of the victory thanks to his quick recovery on De Bruyne.

Alderweireld (6): holder in a defense to three, the player of Tottenham was never worried in this meeting. He made no mistake, despite the two goals conceded. He was solid at the end of the match, just like his team. The author of a good match, he makes a clean copy in the eighth finals.

Kompany (6): Tailor of the defense of the Red Devils, the defender of Citizens is the author of a match without error, like his teammate Alderweireld. He got some situations in front of goal, especially in the 28th minute. He was also precious late in the game, thanks to a decisive comeback on Honda (84th).

Vertonghen (5.5): like his other friends in defense he was not put to the test in the first half. He started the second badly, completely missing and letting Haraguchi slip to the goal (47th). He managed to catch up in the 69th minute, on an unlikely head bell, following a bad raise that lobe Japanese goalkeeper Kawashima, and who raises his team.

Meunier ( 4): holder as piston right, he was the author of a disappointing match. Often used on his corridor, he never managed to be decisive, until the last minute when he is the author of the center that offers the goal to Chadli (90 + 4th). Defensively, the Belgian left a lot of space to his direct opponent.

De Bruyne (6): the Manchester City midfielder was not at best during this meeting. A first half-hearted period in which he was not comfortable in the midfield, especially because of the high pressing of the Japanese players. After the release of Mertens, he had more space to organize the game and was involved in all the goals of his team tonight.

Witsel (5 , 5): a complicated match for the Tianjin Quanjian player, author of a difficult first period, as his teammate Kevin De Bruyne midfielder. He failed to score despite two attempts in the 16th and 36th minute. He left space in the middle, especially on the first Japanese goal. The last half hour was better billed for the Belgian number 6.

Carrasco (3): just like his teammate on the right, the player of the Dalian Yifang was often asked in his left lane. He was not sharp offensively and was not decisive, like his shot in the second period that ended in the stands (57th). Very offensive, he sometimes left space behind his back, taking advantage of Sakai. Replaced by Chadli (65th), author of the goal of the victory at the ultimate second 90 + 4th.

Mertens (4): positioned As a right wing, the Napoli player was not decisive on his side. He often went downhill to get into the axis, leaving little space for De Bruyne to organize the game. He only once hit the goal, on a setback Lukaku, that Kawashima had no trouble capturing (45 + 1e). Replaced by Fellaini (65th), author of the goal of equalization in the 74th minute.

Lukaku (6): despite his efforts to the tip of the Belgian attack, the Manchester United player was not rewarded by a goal. He managed to get some striking situations, all countered by the Japanese defense (17th, 21st). Bad in front of goal (62nd, 86th), he was still very inspired by letting the ball pbad Chadli goal (90 + 4th).

E. Hazard (7,5): see above .

Japan

Kawashima (6): Without a club, he still had to attract the curious glances of many scouts on him tonight. But not sure that he caught the eye of many of them with this half-hearted performance. The former Metz has made a copy more than correct, but his mistake on the reduction of the Belgian gap is difficult to forgive, since he can do much better on the goal of the head of Vertonghen, which he very badly judged the trajectory (69th). A preventable goal that revived the Belgians. He made up for it with a double parade at the very end of the match (86th)!

Hiroki Sakai (6.5): the Olympique de Marseille player answered present. In his right lane, he has hardly let anything pbad, being very aggressive on the man and always being well placed. Carrasco had a lot of difficulties facing him. Let's not be afraid of words, Sakai was imperial in the defensive aspect. We did not see him before but he probably respected the instructions of his coach by staying low, which did not prevent him to afford some interesting rises episodically.

Yoshida (6): not obvious to evaluate since he alternated good interventions and situations where he was in difficulty, especially in the first period, as when he is on the street face in Lukaku (26th), beaten in the duel by the Belgian goleador. But as the game progressed, he tightened the ranks behind, and he took the upper hand over the Mancunian striker who was already preparing to crucify Kawashima (68th).

Shoji (6): a little less in difficulty than his friend, he was very serene in the axis of the rearguard even if there too, the physical deficit facing players like Lukaku and Fellaini later in the meeting made themselves felt. He was more in the interception and reading of the game than in the duel. We should also note a rather clean stimulus to his midfield.

Nagatomo (6.5): the Japanese veteran has achieved an excellent performance. He has multiplied the decisive interventions behind, when he comes out to embarrbad Lukaku for example (20th), or when he made a decisive head to prevent Meunier to resume the second post (42). Then, it was very well projected forward, as with this interesting center for Inui (30th). Inter supporters may wonder why they did not see this Nagatomo more often.

Hasebe (6): confined to a very defensive role tonight , he rather embarrbaded this link between the midfielder and the Belgian attack. In a more destructive and less creative register than Gaku, he excelled, recovering many balloons in his half of the field. On the other hand, he is eaten by Fellaini on Belgian equalization, even if the Mancunian had a significant physical advantage.

Gaku Shibasaki (6.5): in the midfield, he was responsible for animating the Japanese game and serve as the first launching pad offensives of his team. And even though it missed some transmissions, it was overall very clean. It is he who launched Haraguchi on the opening of the Japanese score (48th) with a good ball deep. A real player made in Liga. He left his place to Yamaguchi (81st) who did not have time to show anything

Haraguchi (6): the right-winger was rather discreet in the first half and we did not see him too much in the last meters, the Japanese game pbading most of the time by the left flank with Inui and Nagatomo. And yet, it is he who opens the scoring, with a good call in the back of the defense and a perfectly adjusted shot (48th). With a little more space once before the score, he has participated much more in the game. We can also note that he worked a lot defensively, and he finished on the kneecaps. His coach replaced him with Honda (81st), author of an interesting entry.

Kagawa (6): good performance but can to be too little in view when we know that it is he who must be the man who makes the differences in the last meters. We could see some clbad details, like this little rush on the left side at the half hour of play, and many balloons well felt in small spaces, but overall, it was too irregular on the whole of the

Inui (6.5): on the left flank of the Japanese attack, the new Betis player displayed all his technical quality. He put Thomas Meunier in trouble a lot, overflowing, alternating the races on the corridor or back to the axis, always looking for a partner to combine. His shot on the second Japanese goal is just sumptuous.

Osako (4): Shemale at the forefront of Japan's attack, the striker striker against Colombia has inevitably lived a complicated evening between the Belgian control towers, which he could never get rid of. Some good gameplay in pivot all the same. A little sluggish on the ball that hit him on the 44th and could have become a real goal opportunity.