Belgium face ‘livelier’ Japan

– Japan may be through to the last-16 despite losing to already eliminated Poland, thanks to having incurred fewer yellow cards than Senegal, but they will need to show much more skill to upset heavyweights Belgium on Monday.

Embarrassed and apologetic after Thursday’s defeat against Poland and the team’s decision to let the clock run down so they could slip through at the expense of the African side, Japan vowed to play livelier football next week.

“We want the players to be more free and attacking,” coach Akira Nishino said. “Until this point, we have taken an aggressive approach throughout, and I feel like luck was on our side.”

But the Samurai Blue will need more than just luck against Belgium, a squad oozing talent who ply their trade in top leagues across Europe.

Belgium finished top of Group G, despite defeat potentially offering an easier path to the final, with coach Roberto Martinez (above) hoping fortune will favour the brave.

“It will definitely be a hard match. Belgium are a better team than us,” Japan defender Yuto Nagatomo told Fifa.

“However, Japan can now play with confidence. We have nothing to lose.”

One silver lining for Nishino, who made six changes to his starting line-up against Poland, is that many of his players got to rest before the last-16, including Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa. – AFP