World Cup 2018 - Game 54 - Japan get their heart ripped out, Belgium wins 2-0

Belgium (reluctantly) beat England to secure top spot in Group G, and Japan needed a FIFA Fair Play tiebreaker to edge out Senegal to finish second in Group H. No doubt about it, Belgium was hot in the first round and scored a ton of goals. Japan was surprisingly better than I thought they would be. The have an older team than most, but they have speed. Belgium were heavily favored going into this game.

Belgium battered the Japan goal, but were unable to break through early. Then came the second half and five amazing goals. At 48', Genki Haraguchi got in front of Jan Vertonghen on a long run, caught up to a long pass, hesitated for a split second, and shot the ball across goal past Thibaut Courtois. Just like that, Belgium were behind for the first time. Not to worry, there was still a lot of time. Four minutes later, at 52', Japan doubled up on Belgium and an upset was brewing. Shinji Kagawa couldn't find a path to goal so he laid it back for Takashi Inui who uncorked a screamer of a shot past Courtois. 2-0 and Belgium were reeling. Belgium continued to go forward and were rewarded at 69' when some bad Japanese goalkeeping and defensive play led to a long header by Vertonghen into the net that surprised the Japan keeper, Eiji Kawashima. Belgium was back in business with plenty of time. Tie game at 74' when Marouane Fellaini got his head onto an Eden Hazard pass. The dagger came at 90+4'. Thibaut Courtois got his hands on a Japanese corner and rolled it forward to a running Kevin De Bruyne. He was able to make a long run all the way past the center circle and lay it off for Thomas Meunier. Meunier one-timed a pass to the center of the box that looked destined for Romelu Lukaku. Lukaku either couldn't stop his momentum to get a foot on the ball, or he let it go by. He'll probably say he planned to lay off all along. Well, the ball rolls past Lukaku to an unmarked Nacer Chadli who slid it past the outstretched arms of Kawashima. Japanese hearts broken.

What a game! Japan came to play, but the Belgium machine was too much. Belgium is going to need more luck because they get Brazil next. That should be a hell of a game. I wonder if Belgium will be able to continue to dominate offensively? Japan showed Asia proud. I didn't have high hopes for any of the Asian teams, but Japan proved that they belonged. It will be interesting to see what the Japanese team will look like in four years because they are an aging team.