From Chadli to Brazil, winners and losers as Belgium pull off last-16 comeback vs Japan

In a pulsating and heart-stopping contest, Belgium came from 2-0 down to beat Japan 3-2.

The first half of this game was dull, with nothing of note happening. The second half exploded into life after three minutes and thereafter the action didn’t stop until literally the last kick of the game. Who were the winners and losers?

Winner: Nacer Chadli

Belgium were inexplicably 0-2 down to Japan when Roberto Martinez called for subs. On came Marouane Fellaini and Nacer Chadli, hardly the most inspiring names if you’re a Belgian. Fellaini is a ridiculously limited player and Chadli has talent but barely featured for a pitiful West Brom. How could these players be trusted to turn the game around?

Well, that’s exactly what they did. Chadli was sensational for the 25 minutes he was on the field, the best player on the park in that time. He was hungry for the ball, and whenever he got it he was charging straight at Japan. The Japanese simply couldn’t cope with his pace, power and technique. He led the charge in the Belgium comeback, and then in the very last minute, with the last kick of the game, he appeared after racing fully 70 yards up the field to tap home a winner.

Winner: Takashi Inui

Takashi Inui came into this game off the back of three excellent displays in the group games. He helped Japan to reach the round of 16 for just the third time in their history. This was as far as the Blue Samurai had ever gone, and again their World Cup was expected to end here as they faced Belgium. Except no one told Takashi Inui this.

Once again, despite being faced with a side infinitely more talented, Inui led the charge for his side. Never afraid of his illustrious opponents, he pressed, harried, and never let Belgium settle. And with the ball? He carried it with confidence and when he was 25 yards out, dead centre, with no one marking him? He did not hesitate to hammer the ball into the side of the net beyond the reach of Thibaut Courtois to give Japan a ridiculous 2-0 lead. How Real Betis snagged Inui this summer for absolutely nothing is beyond belief, obviously he was only playing for Eibar but that is a bargain for a player of such incredible skill and smarts.

Loser: Jan Vertonghen

Gaku Shibasake’s through-ball to Genki Haraguchi just minutes into the second half was one of those passes where it looks brilliant. And sure, the vision to put the ball where he did with the weight he did was superb from Shibasake. But the ball was also travelling straight through the path of Jan Vertonghen; essentially it should have been an easy interception.

Yet somehow, Vertonghen got his feet in a twist. In trying to turn his body and clear the ball, he somehow stepped over the thing. It was calamitous from the Tottenham defender, and it left the ball rolling freely through for Haraguchi – Vertonghen managed to get back but then got thrown by a simply bodyfake from Haraguchi, and the Japanese midfielder put his side into a sensational lead. Oh dear, Jan.

Winner: Jan Vertonghen

But the great thing about football is that it always provides you opportunities to redeem yourself. And when Vertonghen got his half-chance, he sort of took it? It’s hard to say. Just 15 minutes after Japan went 2-0 up, Vertonghen appeared on the edge of the box to head the ball back into the box, for his team-mates to try and nod back in. Except he caught it so sweetly, and the ball sailed through the air over the head of everyone, including Eiji Kawashima in the Japan goal, and nestled into the back of the net. The kind of loopy flukey header that impossible comebacks are built on.

Loser: Thibaut Courtois

Thibaut Courtois did two good things against Japan. He saved Keisuke Honda’s rasping free-kick, and he had the sense to roll the ball out for Kevin De Bruyne with just seconds left in the game. Those were good things. Everything else was bad. So, so bad. Courtois looked shaky and far from his dominant self. He nearly spilled a tame shot over the line in the first-half, and in the second he somehow let Genki Haraguchi beat him at the far-post despite all the angles (and his own massive size) being in his favour.

He was also helpless to stop Takashi Inui’s bolt of lightning, and alright normally that wouldn’t be cause to lambast him but after England lost to Belgium, Courtois ran his mouth about Jordan Pickford. “The goalkeeper is 10cm smaller than me,” he said to Voetball24. “I would have caught it. He was too busy throwing his legs in the air.” Now, if you want to talk your smack then go right ahead; but you have to back that up. You can’t be calling out a goalkeeper for being too short to save shots and then let two shots squeak by your massive frame into the sides of your net! C’mon, Thibaut! Don’t you want that Madrid move?

Winner: Romelu Lukaku

Lukaku had a difficult game. For the most part he wasn’t given much in the way of good service from his team-mates, and when they did send decent balls his way he found Maya Yoshida in some sort of Gandalf-in-Moria form. It just didn’t look like it was going to be his day, especially when he nodded a header wide from the only clean look he got all game.

But big players live for the big moments. And when Belgium were racing up the field in the literal last seconds of the game, looking for a goal. Kevin De Bruyne is racing up the middle of the pitch and the obvious pass is on the outside of Lukaku to Thomas Meunier, but there’s a defender out there. So Romelu Lukaku streaks across the pitch, dragging that defender with him and leaving Meunier unmarked.

This is totally selfless from the no. 9 as he can’t possibly receive the ball from De Bruyne, but it puts Belgium in a great position. Then when Meunier has the ball, the cross has to come into the middle. So Lukaku again runs near-post, dragging his man with him. The ball is delivered and it’s heading to the striker; now he could control this and try to score himself. He’s a striker, no one would object. And if he got it wrong extra time would still be there, but no. Big players, big moments. Lukaku steps over the ball so it rolls into the space he just created, where Nacer Chadli now has an easy tap-in and Belgium get a sensational winner.

It was a phenomenal bit of game intelligence from a player so often reduced to mere pace and power. And even though it won’t go down on any stat sheet, there is no doubt that Lukaku’s actions are the reason why Belgium won this game in normal time. Salute Romelu Lukaku, genius striker.

Loser: Brazil

Brazil were licking their lips, right? They were so close to having a showdown against Japan in the quarter-finals. And alright Japan aren’t exactly terrible, but they are easier opponents than Belgium for sure. But then Belgium equalised! And alright they were probably going to win in extra time or on penalties, but at least they would have to go through that gruelling extra 30 minutes; meanwhile Brazil would be able to chill in the hotel with their feet up. Except then Belgium won it in the last second, with the last kick, and then suddenly Brazil not only have to face the incredibly talented Belgian side, but an incredibly talented Belgian side that must feel invincible after their absurdly clutch comeback against Japan. Oh boy!

Winner: Roberto Martinez

Everyone thinks Roberto Martinez is a ridiculous man. And to be fair his cavalier approach to defending during his time as manager of Wigan did engender this kind of reputation. But here’s the thing: objectively, Wigan were terrible. Their talent pool was miniscule. Now alright it could be argued that he just should have stabilised the defence to keep them solid as many coaches do in England. To build from the defence first; but why? A win is worth three draws, after all.

Martinez always banked on wins to carry his side through, and for the most part that technique worked. Their late-season surges to safety were legendary. He even won the FA Cup with Wigan. No, seriously, he won the FA Cup. With Wigan. And Wigan have rubbish defenders.

So when he was given the Belgium job, many heads were turned. They laughed at Belgium, because why would they give their job to such a fraud? Well, maybe because Belgium had three world-class centre-backs and their problem was not defending but attack and consistently delivering on their offensive potential? They needed a coach who could do that.

Well, guess what Roberto Martinez is doing? Exactly that. His system gives Belgium a great chance to make good on their offensive skills. And even when things go wrong at the back, he has the sense to make the kind of changes needed to drive his side forward. On came Fellaini and Chadli. De Bruyne was pushed forward, the ball was sent further wide, Hazard given total horizontal freedom. These aren’t tactics to start a game with, but in terms of a late-game push to see his side find safety?

Well, it’s a microcosm of what he did at Wigan, isn’t it? And a seven game run over six weeks is exactly the kind of form his Wigan side used to pick up. Where chasing the win rather than settling for the draw will always pay off. Where being brave and decisive is all that matters.

Write Roberto Martinez off at your peril.

 

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