Belgium vs Japan (R16) - 19:00 - 02/07/2018

[Idris2002]

When the Japanese lad scored that first goal, he looked so happy, like a big kid.

 

[dessiato]

There have been some brilliant matches; you make it sound like they've been generally poor

Not what I meant. I only meant this was especially good.

 

[Steel Icarus]

This tournament has really produced some fantastic games to watch for the neutral fans and not so neutral ones.

Yes, the quality has been very good. Euro 96 is fondly remembered as being a brilliant tournament, for example, but the standard was pretty bad.

 

[frogwoman]

 

[Maggot]

What a cracking game.

 

[quimcunx]

I hope Japan go home with their heads held high.

 

[Steel Icarus]

I hope Japan go home with their heads held high.

Well, about 5 foot 9 on average.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Japan were magnificent. Kept trying to score. 0-0 1-0 2-0 2-1 2-2 no difference.

Belgium very lucky imo. Lukaku's dummy was class though.

 

[Lord Camomile]

Japan were magnificent. Kept trying to score. 0-0 1-0 2-0 2-1 2-2 no difference.

Rather different from the Poland game...

Lukaku's dummy was class though.

Not if you've got him in your fantasy team

 

[Rebelda]

Well, about 5 foot 9 on average.

That's mountainous to our quimmy <3

 

[Spymaster]

Feel for Japan but can't help thinking that Belgium are better placed than Japan would've been to send that dick Neymar back home.

 

[The Octagon]

Great stuff from both sides, that was everything a football game should be.

 

[billbond]

Feel very sad for Japan
Very entertaining and played some lovely stuff.

Just a little Naive at the end, none of the major nations would have conceded that last goal which turned out to be the winner, they would never have thrown so many players forward from that corner leaving them exposed at the back.
Plus lack a bit of height, the Belgians were killing them last twenty from crosses
The 1st Goal was a complete fluke.

 

[T & P]

Like everyone else I feel sorry for Japan and they gave a great account of themselves, but they owed that performance to the competition after the lamentable antics they pulled for the last ten minutes of their previous match.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Feel very sad for Japan
Very entertaining and played some lovely stuff.

Just a little Naive at the end, none of the major nations would have conceded that last goal which turned out to be the winner, they would never have thrown so many players forward from that corner leaving them exposed at the back.
Plus lack a bit of height, the Belgians were killing them last twenty from crosses
The 1st Goal was a complete fluke.

Don't agree that they were naive. A 'less naive' team wouldn't have scored the second goal. Fuck me, for a while they were presssing to go 3-0 up and looked quite likely to do it. Belgium had a complete fluke of a first goal to get back into it. Even at the end, I think it was the right thing to do for Japan to press forward - far better than extra time, which Belgium were more likely to win, or penalties, ditto.

Hats off to Japan.

Have I said this yet? I FUCKING LOVE THE WORLD CUP.

 

[Lord Camomile]

they owed that performance to the competition after the lamentable antics they pulled for the last ten minutes of their previous match.

Possibly projecting, but I think they felt that too.

After that match, the manager said something like "I'm sorry for what we did, but I didn't have any other ideas".

 

[Lord Camomile]

I FUCKING LOVE THE WORLD CUP.

I know many of those who go to club football week in, week out, feel different, but I bloody love international football

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I know many of those who go to club football week in, week out, feel different, but I bloody love international football

tbh my feeling of alienation from the bullshit of club football leaves the WC and the Euros as the things that I can enjoy as 100% sport. They retain that purity. And fuck me I love it.

 

[Wilf]

Feel for Japan but can't help thinking that Belgium are better placed than Japan would've been to send that dick Neymar back home.

Neymar has now officially inherited Ronaldo's Cunt Mantle: The Twat We All Want To Fail - baton passes to the next generation.

 

[stavros]

Feel for Japan but can't help thinking that Belgium are better placed than Japan would've been to send that dick Neymar back home.

I don't know, as a theme of this WC has been the "big teams" struggling to break down the very well organised ones. Japan certainly fitted this category.

That said, it's irrelevant now.

 

[The39thStep]

Like everyone else I feel sorry for Japan and they gave a great account of themselves, but they owed that performance to the competition after the lamentable antics they pulled for the last ten minutes of their previous match.

I've never forgiven them after watching Merry Xmas Mr Lawrence

 

[littlebabyjesus]

I've never forgiven them after watching Merry Xmas Mr Lawrence

Really? Surely not, not even in jest. The Krauts are out too, you'll be pleased to hear.

 

[The39thStep]

Really? Surely not, not even in jest. The Krauts are out too, you'll be pleased to hear.

And there's a total lack of diversity in that Japanese team

 

[Lord Camomile]

"I don't want to admit it. I do feel that it was a tragedy but I have to accept the defeat as a fact."

 

[littlebabyjesus]

And there's a total lack of diversity in that Japanese team

Fuck off. There's really no need.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

General point to the forum. Please please please fuck off with the WW2 references. Just stop. None of us were even fucking born then ffs.

 

[Lord Camomile]

None of us were even fucking born then ffs.

Sasaferrato

 

[Lord Camomile]

(Sorry Do actually agree with the general point)

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Not even him. I'm fucking sick of reading it, tbh. Please stop. this is the sort of shit that makes me want England not to fucking win.

 

[Sasaferrato]

Sasaferrato

Nope... 1952.