Belgium vs Japan round of 16 World Cup 2018

Japan squeezed through to the knockout stage, but The Samurai Blue will be hard-pressed to go any further when they face Belgium on Monday night (20:00) in Rostov.

Belgium: Group G winner (9 points, 9:2 goal difference)

The Belgians haven’t lost a competitive match since late 2016 (2-0 friendly loss to Spain). The 22-game unbeaten run includes 17 victories and 5 draws. Belgium finished with 9 points in 2014 as well and was later knocked out by eventual runner-up Argentina in the quarter-finals. A similar faith awaited them in Euro 2016, when they also exited the competition in the quarter-finals after losing 3-1 to Gareth Bale’s Wales. The Red Devils’ golden generation is looking to make it at least one step further in Russia.

This nation has reached the semi-finals of a World Cup only once, back in Mexico 1986 when it finished fourth. Talent-wise, this unit is even better. Between Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Thibaut Courtois, Belgium has four accomplished, experienced superstars at their prime. For them, it is now or never.

Belgium projected starting lineup:

Thibaut Courtois, Jan Vertonghen, Dedrick Boyata, Toby Aiderweireld, Thomas Meunier, Yannick Carrasco, Axel Witsel, Kevin De Bruyne, Dries Mertens, Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku.

Japan: Group H runner-up (4 points, 4:4 goal difference)

On Thursday, Japan became the first team in World Cup history to qualify for the Round of 16 thanks to a better fair play record. Akira Nishino’s men had two yellow cards less than Senegal, so even though they lost their last game against Poland, they are here, among the last 16.

The Samurai Blue were projected to finish last in Group H, mainly because the lack of time to prepare under a new coach. They’ve beaten the odds by getting this far and will come into the game against Belgium free of expectations.

Japan projected starting lineup:

Eiji Kawashima, Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Gen Shoji, Yuto Nagatomo, Makoto Hasebe, Gaku Shibasaki, Shinji Kagawa, Takashi Inui, Genki Haraguchi, Yuya Osako.

If the game against Poland showed anything, it was that the Japanese are powerless without their captain Makoto Hasebe. Head coach Nishino decided to rest some of his players for the last group fixture and Hasebe was among them. Japan looked lost on the pitch. Hiroki Sakai’s and Yuto Nagatomo’s deep, penetrating runs are essential in Hishino’s tactics. Both players are fast, technically advanced and cross the ball well. The right wing Genki Haraguchi is not up to the level of his teammates, but there’s no one on the bench who could replace him at the position.

Belgium vs. Japan prediction

These two met in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup Japan hosted along with South Korea. The match finished 2-2 and the Japanese actually, topped the group back then. This is, however, a different, much stronger Belgium team that holds the advantage in every aspect and in every position. Anything but a quarter-final date with the Brazil-Mexico winner will be as shocking as Germany’s World Cup exit.

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