Japan coach Akira Nishino called the defeat a tragedy. And he was right. In most instances, teams lose for going about their business in the wrong way. The Asians were cruelly punished for playing in the right way.
Nacer Chadli’s winner for Belgium deep in stoppage-time came from a Japan corner. The Samurai Blue were still looking for a winner in the dying moments. Some would call them naive. Others might say they should’ve played for penalties. Both suggestions miss the point.
A couple of earlier round-of-16 clashes felt like they were playing for penalties within five minutes; dull tactics to enforce, tedious games to watch. But Nishino knew his only chance of victory was in 90 minutes. His players were 58 places below the Belgians in the FIFA world rankings and already tiring. So they went for broke and blew it. Just. Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui had given them a 2-0 lead, but the Belgians won 3-2.
The tactics were arguably too bold, too foolhardy in the latter stages, but there’s really no point in lambasting the Japanese. They’ve been punished enough. They’ve missed out on a quarter-final spot, which would’ve been the first ever. Besides, their swashbuckling approach felt like an antidote after a couple of plodding matches elsewhere. Both sides contributed to one of the games of the tournament.
Japan were expected to bow out, but no one really expected to lament their absence. The Samurai Blue did Asia proud. And they will be missed.
Neil Humphreys
Singapore’s best selling author and Football columnist
