Five conclusions as Belgium send Japan home after breathless win | OneFootball

What. A. Game. Belgium came from two goals down to beat Japan in one of the matches of the tournament so far.

It was the first time since Portugal beat North Korea in 1966 that a side had come from two goals behind in 90 minutes to win a knockout match at the World Cup, and the first time Belgium themselves had done that in any game since 1954.

Five goals in a breathless second half saw the Red Devils make it to the quarter-finals, but it was almost not to be.

Here’s what we made of their historic win in Samara.

Roberto Martínez clearly underestimated his opponents

In November last year, Belgium hosted a friendly against Japan with a late Romelu Lukaku goal giving the Red Devils a workmanlike, but still very comfortable, 1-0 win. Going into this game on Monday, Roberto Martínez referred to that match extensively, revealing that, because of it, he had a good idea of what to expect and how to go about qualifying for the quarter-finals.

Since then though, Japan have changed their coach, changed their style and overhauled their squad.

It may have been a slip of the tongue, but it’s indicative of an arrogance that Martínez has showed, and projected, on to his squad and they’re exceptionally lucky to have gotten away with what was, at times, a dreadful performance.

Yannick Carrasco the permanent weak link

Poor old Yannick Ferreira Carrasco. Called up by his country for a chance to play in a potentially World Cup-winning campaign, and then shoved out wide in a position that he’s clearly not comfortable in. Even against Panama and Tunisia the 24-year-old looked woefully inept at wing-back – against Japan he was consistently out of position and was regularly on the verge of costing his team the game.

But we can’t really blame the Dalian Yifang man. Martínez has to shoulder this responsibility and has to remedy this obvious weak link before the Brazil game in a few days. Genki Haraguchi is one thing – imagine what will happen when Willian starts running at him?

Japan are the ultimate underdogs

What a performance. This equal Japan’s best ever World Cup finish. Only twice before have they made it to the last 16 and they were exceptional here. Credit where it’s due for Akira Nishino’s men. Coming into the tournament, not one of us at Onefootball Towers had Japan getting out of their group, so despite some questionable tactics in their final group game, merely being here against Belgium was a feat in itself.

And yet again, the Blue Samurai exceeded expectations with a performance full of hard running, stout defending and brilliant finishing. It wasn’t to be at the end, but they’ll leave Russia with their heads held high.

Kevin De Bruyne’s positioning was all wrong

Whether you would voted for Mohamed Salah or Kevin De Bruyne, there’s no doubting that the Manchester City midfielder was in the top two when it came to Player of the Season last time out. The reason the Belgian was in such fine fettle for Pep Guardiola’s side was his position as an advanced number eight – dictating play from the middle of the park, but having the licence to roam forward and the security of having Fernandinho at his rear.

That’s not something De Bruyne has here for this Belgium side. The 27-year-old’s starting position is far too deep for him to effect the game, and with Axel Witsel alongside him, has no real security to make those probing runs with the ball. Guess who’s to blame? It rhymes with Noberto Bartinez.

The big men got it done

In the end, for all their technical brilliance and diminutive attacking stars, it was the big men who got it done for Belgium.

A looping Jan Vertonghen header and a bullet of a finish from Marouane Fellaini were enough to see them overcome their resolute opponents – but is that really enough for this team? A team with this much quality?

It resembled a school match where the super talented year 9s were giving the year 11s a scare, before they just bullied their way to a win.

Brazil are up next and if we’re continuing this metaphor, they’re about the face a group students with a PhD in the footballs.