Belgium dig deep to pull off thrilling fightback
This is the World Cup that keeps on giving, keeps on enthralling, keeps on producing storylines that will be told years from now. Belgium looked like being the latest big name tipped to make waves in Russia to be brought back down to size with an almighty jolt by a relative minnow.
Trailing 2-0 inside four minutes early in a second half that the first had left us hopelessly unprepared for, a golden generation stood on the brink of another ignominious failure, braced for more headlines about bottlers and manager Roberto Martinez gearing up to collect his P45. Then two Belgium substitutes were introduced to dazzling effect and it became a story about a jawdropping comeback, deep wells of character and a couple of inspired tactical changes.
A quarter-final against Brazil in Kazan on Friday could now prove a humdinger although it had only appeared a distant dream before Jan Vertonghen atoned for an error for Japan’s opening goal to kick-start this fightback, culminating in a goal for Nacer Chadli with seconds left that was worthy of winning any match. “We were thinking about Wales at that point,” admitted Eden Hazard in reference to Belgium’s 3-1 quarter-final defeat by Chris Coleman’s side at Euro 2016.
“But we were also thinking if we can score, it was possible. We have players who can change the game. We bring players from the bench and they make the difference.”
Marouane Fellaini and Chadli were the substitutes in this case. They had been introduced a few minutes before Vertonghen’s goal in a desperate bid to regain some control in a game that was being taken away from them and it was that pair who would leave Japan nursing the sort of wounds that can take a long time to heal.
It was Fellaini who equalised but, as the clock ticked towards the fifth and final minute of stoppage time, most who had been left spellbound in the Rostov Arena must have been braced for extra-time. Surely there could not be any more drama?
In fact, if there was to be any, it threatened to come from Japan as they won a corner after Thibaut Courtois had pushed aside a shot from Keisuke Honda. With referee Malang Diedhiou checking his watch, Courtois ended up plucking the corner out of the air and rolled the ball into the path of Kevin De Bruyne in front of him. And so began the start of a stunning 93yard smash-and-grab that might yet win goal of the tournament and perhaps, too, signal the moment Belgium came of age as a team.
Surging forward, through the huge hole where Japan’s midfield should have been, De Bruyne must have run 60 yards before playing a perfectly weighted pass with the outside of his right boot into the path of Thomas Meunier, who had run that right channel superbly all night.
Meunier crossed first time to Romelu Lukaku who, spotting Chadli running in behind him, dummied the ball quite brilliantly under pressure. The West Bromwich Albion forward had the simple task of tapping into an empty net. Japan’s players dropped to their knees in agony while Belgium celebrated wildly. It was harsh on Japan, not least Maya Yoshida, who had excelled in defence. When the final whistle was blown seconds later, the Belgium squad convened in a huddle in the centre-circle.
They have been labelled chokers before – hell, eight of the side that started this game began that dismal defeat by Wales – but maybe this is their turning point. It was the first time since the 1966 World Cup, when Portugal came from 3-0 down to beat North Korea 5-3, that a side had recovered from at least two goals down to win a knockout stage match in normal time. “I think this is down to the personality, the focus, the desire, the never-say-die attitude of this group of players, and also the belief of the players when they came on,” Martinez said.
As electrifying as Belgium are going forward, though, their defending will have to improve against Brazil. Both sides lacked a final ball in the first period but the game exploded after the interval. If Martinez’s men were going to be exploited anywhere, it was in that space in behind their attack-minded wingbacks that was difficult for their centre-halves Toby Alderweireld and Vertonghen, neither of whom are the quickest, to patrol.
When Yuto Nagatoma pounced on a mistake by Meunier and found Shinji Kagawa in acres of space, Belgium were suddenly on the back foot but Vertonghen should have cut out Kagawa’s pass. Instead, caught in two minds, the Tottenham man nervously stuck out a leg rather than continuing his run, allowing Genki Haraguchi to get in behind and shoot across Courtois.
Belgium reacted quickly but no sooner had Hazard cannoned a shot off the post from Dries Mertens’ pullback than Japan had scored again. Vincent Kompany’s clearing header fell only far as Kagawa, who laid the ball off to Takashi Inui and watched as his team-mate bent a curling finish past Courtois. At that point, Belgium were heading out.
They got back in the game, though, thanks to Eiji Kawashima’s suspect positioning for Vertonghen’s goal, the defender looping a header over the Japan goalkeeper – way off his line – after a corner was not cleared properly.
Belgium smelt blood and, emboldened by the earlier introduction of Fellaini and Chadli, went for the jugular. The equaliser arrived when Fellaini bullied Japan captain Makoto Hasebe in the air to head home after Hazard had twisted and turned and floated over a cross that was made for the Manchester United midfielder. The real drama, though, was still to come.