Japan stunned by manner of defeat, admits coach Nishino

Japan did much better than expected so the Japan team need a well earned rest....no need for navel gazing!

Australia vs Japan 2006, all over again?

Coach totally to blame for collapse as he did not train players to play full out to final whistle as in the previous game. Also, they had a poor defense against the counter on the final goal.

I don't get this coach. He shuts down against Poland when he should have gone for it, and he keeps going for it against Belgium with a 2-0 lead in the second half when he should have shut down!

Lol some here should quit blaming the coach and accept that japan is simply NOT that good!! World cups heating up!!

Nishino

we were controlling the game 

Japan was never controlling the game. They played well but look at the stats, Japan was never in control. Great strikes however by  Haraguchi  and Inui. Kawashima had a great game in goal but the overwhelming attacks on hie goal couldn't be kept at bay for 96 minutes.

I wonder what the former coach of Japan is thinking right now.

Glad they recovered some dignity after the Poland debacle, but also glad they are out. They can enjoy being mobbed at Narita.

Good game, too bad they lost. I really thought they would pull it off.

*J*apan was never controlling the game. They played well but look at the stats, Japan was never in control. Great strikes however by Haraguchi and Inui. Kawashima had a great game in goal but the overwhelming attacks on hie goal couldn't be kept at bay for 96 minutes.

Inconsistent mumbling obvious no clue about the game :)

Lol some here should quit blaming the coach and accept that japan is simply NOT that good!! World cups heating up!!

The results of any game always fall to the coach. Nishino's tactics can be faulted for Japan's loss. Any lower ranked team playing against better opponents would tighten their defenses when leading 2 - 0, especially in the 2nd half.

You haven't been following the World Cup much, teams you deem "simply NOT that good!" have beaten some giants of the games. It would have been good to see Japan in the quarters against Brazil. Japan didn't play like a team ranked 61st in the world this tournament.

@Pukey2 - Australia vs Japan 2006, all over again?

I was thinking the same thing myself. And, as in the 2006 game, Japan went to pieces after getting a lead.

One more goal to Japan couldn't revive Belgium that way. One of the best match I've seen in this World Cup. Very active and fascinating performing of Japan's players. Belgium was dead serious to win to score back 3-2 at the additional time. That's the level they showed how strong they are. I could find a stronger Japan at round 16 where many favorite teams had their tickets back to their countries. Thank's hanpanai Japan!!

What is even with this guy and this team? 'Oh no, we might have conceded another goal' was the exact reason given for the ridiculous gamble in the last round. Now the team actually earns a defensible position but decide to keep attacking?

Stunned by manner of defeat? Why? The Belgian team made an AMAZING ending and showed what you do in the last minutes -- not sit on the ball in your end and hope for the best.

Well the whole country are proud of their team for giving the No.3 fifa rank Belgium a scare. Anyone following soccer knows fifa ranking is a joke, or the number of goals scored in the wc qualifiers mean nothing.

People have forgotten that japan conceded in every match and even conceded against a ten man team. There is no guarantee they could have held out after being 2 up.

drlucifer: "Anyone following soccer knows fifa ranking is a joke, or the number of goals scored in the wc qualifiers mean nothing."

If they mean nothing, why be proud of giving #3 a scare? I agree the rankings have a lot to be desired, but the people at the top consistently do better (not always, but usually). It's like tennis... the top four and a few others have been up there for ages, winning contest after contest, then losing one, coming back despite injuries, etc. Others who only last for a moment drop FAR down and are hardly spoken of again. The people at the top are not always perfect, but they are at the top for a reason.

Well, as expected Nishino's not so aggressive defense, a.k.a less yellow cards strategy/mindset caught up with them, and this is what a top team like belgium exploited.

Japan's complacency got them in the end, their arrogance at being in he lead early on. Belgium bounced back and obliterated them. Just goes to show the level of superiority

Inconsistent mumbling obvious no clue about the game :) the fact is Japan just played to it world ranking , Belgium is / were a superior team, they come from behind and scored 3 times in the last 25minutes, a never give up fighting spirit that you need to be a world top team. You need to play the whole 90minutes plus extra time, Belgium sealed their victory in the last minute. A trait Japan has yet to master.

Agreed. Japan regained some of the honour they lost in the Poland game, and Belgium made an amazing comeback.

Heartbreaking end for Japan despite playing their best match at the wc.

Totally agree with thelonius, Nishino's "I really wanted another goal at 2-0" just doesnt make sense especially considering that J's counter-attacking masterclass had dismantled belgium's defence for 60min. This was suicidal. I felt he'd let his team & players down tbh.

But what a game that was. J players' technique, passing & pace were superb.

Wow, coming from 0-2 those Belgium players really showed the samurai spirit!

Football in this World Cup was very unpredictable to see stronger team tends to win the weaker one 'till round 16. But the next quarter final will be much higher the hurdles to play, Unfortunately Japan isn't at that level. Middle fielders/forwards players to have more speed passing+decisive shooting. Defenders to know more approaches the fatal shooting of the adversary, the goal keeper to risk catching/punching the ball when confronts the last player at goal shooting. Simply saying, I didn't see Japan really practiced those skills in their training before the matches.

@stev fen

Japan's complacency got them in the end, their arrogance at being in he lead early on

Must have been a different game to the one I was watching. There was no complacency or arrogance from Japan on display. They put up a spirited fight and in the end were outclassed by Belgium who made the most of their opportunities.

wtfjapan: "Belgium sealed their victory in the last minute. A trait Japan has yet to master."

Master? It's a trait Japan has yet to TRY.

Toasted Heretic: "Must have been a different game to the one I was watching. There was no complacency or arrogance from Japan on display."

No, he's right about them letting up a bit after the two goals. They became overconfident, and even the commentators were already talking about the next round, were more relaxed, etc. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say the complacency was obvious, and no outright arrogance, except with Honda as usual, but they definitely let up their guard, which is a kind of complacency, I guess. The last goal, and the way Belgium KNEW they'd get it -- THAT was playing with spirit. I think Japan thought they were already going into overtime and were just thinking the half was already over, much like they gambled at the end of the game with Poland, banking on the Senegal/Columbia game to be already finished when it was quite.