Can anyone see an upset here?

Nah, I would have said that this was the most straight forward draw of this round.

After Spain v Russia.  :john:

Lol...a Senegalese referee and assistant. Should be fun if close calls go against Japan.

Clrnc wrote:

Can anyone see an upset here?

Definitely. Belgium have the advantage of quality obviously but Japan have had a really good World Cup so far. I reckon most of the knockout rounds in this tournament are down to the attitude of the team on that particular day. Whoever wants it the most gets it.

way to be on the fence, Klaus.

Lukaku with an almost-welbeck move there

Good game so far, Japan started well but has faded

Wow Japan is really fighting for this. Good play

Clrnc wrote:

Wow Japan is really fighting for this. Good play

Japan have great players for the system they're playing. There isn't a forward I'd rather have over Osaku in this World Cup if the plan is to work hard and close down centrebacks for 90 minutes.

Ffs poor touch by Osako otherwise that's a sure goal.

How is Nagatomo playing in Turkey? Top fullback

Almost a clanger by Courtois

That Inui guy is a really silky player, very good touch and ball control.

I'll never understand the hype around Axel Witsel, by the way. He's 30 now, playing in China, and still as clueless as he was when he broke through a decade ago. He has a pretty good engine, but that's a notoriously low bar for a midfielder. Just look at all the chances he's wasted today. He has no vision so he shoots as soon as he gets the ball outside the box. Imagine picking this two-bit lightweight over Nainggolan.

There it is, that's a great goal.

That is a beautiful goal.

That was a seriously good finish by Haraguchi.

Japan's goal may have come too early, will certainly motivate Belgium