Low expectations follow great escape
ROSTOV-ON-DON: It took a great escape in injury time to get there after being two goals down to Japan, but Belgium can now view their quarter-final against Brazil free of the weight of expectation.
“When you play against Brazil, you need to understand they are the best team in the competition,” coach Roberto Martinez said after a final charge up the park four minutes into stoppage time gave Belgium a 3-2 win and a tough date in Kazan on Friday.
“We can enjoy it from the first minute,” the Spaniard said, describing the fixture as a childhood dream for footballers. “I don’t think anyone expects us to go through to the semi-finals.”
In a goalless first-half on Monday, where the Japanese gave a side ranked third in the world by FIFA no space and threatened on the break, his players displayed “a fear of not being able to fulfill the tag of being favourites”, said Martinez.
Only once they were 2-0 behind with half-an-hour to play and “nothing to lose” did the Red Devils “almost enjoyed the opportunity of getting back into it”. So against Brazil, “we can really enjoy it from the first second.”
He refused to take questions on his tactics, praising the Japanese and the “hunger” of his own players, though Belgians at home are asking plenty of questions about the strength of his three-man defensive line.
DOUBLE SUBSTITUTION
On 65 minutes, Martinez threw on West Bromwich Albion winger Nacer Chadli and Marouane Fellaini, the towering Manchester United midfielder. Within 10 minutes, after a lucky headed goal from Tottenham Hotspur full-back Jan Vertonghen, Fellaini headed the equaliser.
As extra-time loomed a quick throw out from goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois, a run through the middle by Kevin De Bruyne to feed Thomas Meunier on the right and a cross that Lukaku deftly left for Chadli had the Belgians in heaven in just 9 seconds.
ONE RISK TOO MANY
Japan coach Akira Nishino’s short time in charge has been defined by a succession of gambles and so it was perhaps fitting that his side departed the World Cup after risking it all.
It was a gamble in itself to install Nishino as coach two months out from the tournament, and since taking over the 63-yearold has shown a daring not associated with his predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic, nor indeed Japanese football in general.
After choosing to keep faith with many of the veterans who were in danger of losing their place, Nishino threw the dice against Poland, making six changes to the starting 11 and then, when a goal down, opted not to chase an equaliser, instead holding out for a result that would see them into the last 16 due to a better disciplinary record.
Against Belgium, deep into stoppage time, Nishino decided he was not done gambling and urged his players forward at a corner looking to clinch the winner. When the set-piece came to nothing, Belgium broke on the
counter and scored the winner.
“I don’t think the players were to blame, I think it was me who might have lost control of the game,” Nishino said. “As for the result I am very disappointed. I am devastated.”