Boyata extremely unlucky to be dropped for this one and bringing in Kompany must be a high risk given his recent injury record. Or maybe he is just being rested for the quarter-final.
Gary Lineker’s tenth word of the preview is England. Damn, I had eleven. Really can’t wait until they get knocked out, although then we’ll just get “surely England could have beaten this side had they got through”.
Japan had a shot at goal within the first minute and looked the better side for a while but Belgium gradually took control and created some half-chances. Japan did get forward too though so it was anybody’s game going into the second half.
And it was Japan who went ahead a few minutes in as Belgium's changed defence blundered to allow Haraguchi in to score. Hazard almost hit back immediately but hit the post and incredibly Japan quickly went two up with a great Inui strike.
Lukaku missed a great chance (Keown still thinks saying “he has to score” adds anything to our understanding) as things began to look bleak for the Belgians. Until, that is,Vertonghen came up with a brilliant/fluky header (take your pick) which looped in over the ‘keeper, then Fellaini scored a more deliberate header with his hair to equalise as the game swiftly transformed into a cracker.
And it was rounded off in sensational fashion as a Japanese corner was caught by Courtois who rolled it out to De Bruyne, who swept it wide to Meunier who crossed it into the box to Lukaku who brilliantly dummied it for Chadli who fired home. What a goal. What a finish.
Sympathy for Japan of course, although they showed naivety right at the end when they probably had too many players forward for that corner. Credit to Belgium for coming back from a seemingly hopeless position. Not sure how they’ll fare against Brazil, but that’s a worry for another day. Friday to be exact.
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