Belgium’s World Cup hopes hinge on manager and bench
Belgium’s last-gasp win against Japan was the latest proof of the qualities Roberto Martinez brings to his team.
The World Cup served up another heart attack special on Monday, when Belgium came from two goals down to beat Japan late in second half stoppage time. For those of you keeping score at home, the dark horse bracket remains intact. With Croatia still alive after eliminating Denmark on Sunday via penalties, and Belgium on the other, the surprise teams are outlasting the established powers so far in this tournament.
Not since the 2002 World Cup, co-hosted by Japan and South Korea, have we seen so many favorites pack their bags early. In the end, that World Cup was won by Brazil, who defeated Germany in the final. The world order was restored despite Cinderella runs by South Korea and Turkey.
On the eve of the Belgium-Japan clash on Monday in Rostov-on-Don, Eden Hazard wasn’t shy about where he thought this team could go at the World Cup.
“We have top players. We play as a group. It is not just one or two players. We have 23, especially against England [a 1-0 win in the final group stage match] we saw that,” Hazard said. “It is in our hands. We just need to play together, give everything and then we will see what happens.”
In a World Cup highlighted by upsets, Belgium were on the precipice of becoming another casualty. As this game proved, even a team loaded with superstars need an astute coach. Belgium have that in Roberto Martinez. Down 2-0 early in the second half, they looked to be packing their bags. Instead, Martinez made two key substitutions that led to three unanswered goals and changed the course of the match.
Martinez made a double sub in the 66th minute, bringing winger Nacer Chadli and midfielder Marouane Fellaini in for strikers Yannick Carrasco and Dries Mertens. The Belgian offense looked more alive from that point forward. It also led to a goal three minutes later and another, by Fellaini, in the 74th minute to draw the score level. Chadli scored the game-winner in dramatic fashion four minutes into stoppage time to beat Japan 3-2 in the biggest comeback of this tournament.
For all the talk about how great Belgium were in all areas of the field, it was Martinez’s tactics and his deep bench that saved a team that were lethargic for long stretches and a defense that couldn’t contain Japan’s counterattacks. The tough games, starting with Brazil in the quarterfinals on Friday, now lie ahead for the Red Devils.
Belgium have always had the potential, but somehow find ways to squander it during the knockout stages of major tournaments. Four years ago, Belgium lost to Argentina in the quarterfinals. They were shocked by Wales at the same stage two years ago at the European Championship.
“I am a lot stronger than two years ago or four years ago … I have a lot more experience as well,” Hazard said. “Four years ago, it was our first major competition, all of us together. [Euro 2016] was our second one. Knockout matches have a lot to do with experience.”
Experience certainly helps, but it wasn’t enough. This team needed their manager to call an audible in the second half to change things around. Belgium’s attack has been formidable in Russia so far. Soccer, however, remains a team game. If we’ve learned anything at this tournament it’s that individual stars have mattered very little (see Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo) and the collective ultimately succeeds.
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Belgium are a hardworking group and Martinez knows, by the move he made against Japan, that no one player is more important than the team. Hazard and his teammates were all smiles on the field at Rostov Arena. Another opponent had been swept aside, the team’s quest to win soccer’s ultimate trophy still alive.
Belgium will need to look back at this game, and their failure at Euro 2016, and learn the necessary lesson. For now, however, they can rejoice in having reached the final eight. They owe their bench and manager a great deal of gratitude.