Jan Vertonghen got his team on the board in the tail end of the 69th minute, when he may not have even been aiming for the goal. Vertonghen headed a ball from well outside the box, and it gently curved into the far side of the net, over a helpless Kawashima. Belgium’s equalizing goal was also a header, this one courtesy of Marouane Fellaini, who rose above the Japan defense to nod it in.<doc-sep>The Japanese national team came within half an hour away from pulling off one of the more shocking results of the Word Cup on Monday. Japan held what seemed to be a convincing 2-0 lead in the second half before the talented Belgians stormed back to take control of the game in the final seconds. Despite struggling throughout the entire match, Belgium regained its group stage form, scoring three goals in the final 25 minutes to earn a 3-2 victory. Nacer Chadli scored in the 94th minute, the final minute of stoppage time, to complete the comeback and send Roberto Martinez's team to the quarterfinals, where it will face Brazil. The game came alive after a scoreless first half that say plenty of chances for each team. Belgium was a bit sloppy while Japan's defense was able to give the favorites problems when it came to playing the ball over the top. And then, Japan found a breakthrough, twice. Genki Haraguchi scored a fine opener in the box on 48 minutes before Takashi Inui made it 2-0 four minutes later with this golazo: The hour-mark passed, and as we neared closer to the 70th minute, Belgium needed a spark. And it got it with this miraculous header from Jan Vertonghen in the 69th minute: Then another header, five minutes later, equalized things thanks to floppy-haired Marouane Fellaini: Belgium continued to push for a winner but was denied by some fine saves from Eiji Kawashima until it pulled off one of the most lethal counterattacks of the cup. Belgium defended a Japan corner kick in the 94th minute, and left everyone in the dust, with Romelu Lukaku's dummy falling right to Chadli for the dramatic winner: That was something else. And it now produces the dream matchup of Brazil vs. Belgium. Japan deserved more and put together a performance few thought it could, but in the end Belgium's talent was just too much. Brazil and Belgium will play on Friday at 2 p.m. ET. You can stream every World Cup match on fuboTV (Try for free). Relive commentary from Monday's Belgium vs. Japan match If the live blog doesn't load properly, click here.<doc-sep>Belgium scored a last-gasp winner to beat Japan on Monday and set up a World Cup quarter-final against Brazil. The match looked set for extra-time after goals from Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini cancelled out efforts from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui. But as the seconds ticked down, Belgium poured forward and Nacer Chadli grabbed a dramatic winner. Belgium, who made 10 changes for the match, were by far the better side but Japan defended doggedly and threatened on the break as they seek to reach a World Cup quarter-final for the first time. The winner of the knockout match in Rostov will face Brazil, who earlier beat Mexico 2-0, in a quarter-final in Kazan on Friday. As expected, Belgium coach Roberto Martinez made wholesale changes from the side that beat England 1-0 in the group stages. He reverted mainly to the same starting line-up that thrashed Tunisia 5-2, with Manchester City defender Kompany as the only new addition, in for Dedryck Boyata at centre-back. Striker Romelu Lukaku, who has scored four goals so far in Russia, returned to lead Belgium's star-studded attack. Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Kevin De Bruyne were restored in a powerful midfield after being rested against England. Japan coach Akira Nishino also revamped his starting line-up after the 1-0 defeat to Poland in the group stages. (Highlights: Belgium vs Japan) Highlights Between Belgium vs Japan, 2018 FIFA World Cup, straight from Rostov Arena Rostov-On-Don 01:24 IST: FT: Belgium 3-2 Japan. Thank you for joining us on all the action, until next time, it's goodbye! 01:22 IST: GOAL! High quality counter-attack from Belgium, Lukaku plays a dummy as Chadli in space behind unmarked, makes no mistake to tuck it away for a goal. 01:20 IST: Free-kick for Japan in the 93rd minute, came off a Kompany foul. Honda strucks a brilliant one but Courtois keeps it out. Japan have a corner but Courtois catches it and initiates a counter-attack. 01:18 IST: 4 minutes added! Japan have a corner. But the ball has been tucked away by the Belgian defence. 01:13 IST: DOUBLE SAVE! 35-year-old Japanese goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima keeps first Chadli and then Lukaku out -- both from a close range header. 86 minutes played! 01:11 IST: Honda makes a lovely run inside the box, from a through ball but the ball hits the side-netting. 01:10 IST: Japan have brought in Keisuke Honda to replace Haraguchi in the 81st minute. 01:06 IST: Belgium have the tempo, momentum of the match. We have seen 4 shots on target in the second-half, all on corner. Meanwhile, it's a corner for Belgium -- Kompany's header has been tucked away. Goal kick for Japan! 01:01 IST: GOAL! Fellaini puts Belgium level, through a brilliant cross delivered by Eden Hazard. After 74 minutes Belgium 2-2 Japan. 00:59 IST: Inui from the left flank finds Nagatomo ahead of him, who delivers a cross but Osako's shot has been denied. This is beginning to become a thriller of a contest. 00:57 IST: GOAL! An astonishing header from Jan Vertonghen pulls one back for Belgium, Japan failed to clear their lines, paid the price. Belgium 1-2 Japan. 00:55 IST: Sloppy from Japan in the midfield, Witsel finds Fellaini on the right flank the cross comes in for Lukaku but well blocked by the Yoshida to keep his shot out. 68 minutes have been played. 00:52 IST: Double Substitution for Belgium, Fellaini steps in place of Mertens while Chadli replaces Carrasco in the 65th minute. 00:50 IST: Romelu Lukaku misses a chance from close range, his header goes wide off target from a cross well delivered by Vertonghen on the 61st minute. 00:40 IST: GOAAAL! Takashi Inui scores a blinder from outside the box. Belgium in trouble. After 52 minutes, Belgium 0-2 Japan. Japan have now scored more goals in the ongoing World Cup then they have ever done in any other World Cup. 00:38 IST: Eden Hazard hits the POST, on the counter. 00:35 IST: GOAL! Genki Haraguchi puts Japan in the lead, 48th minute. Gets past Jan Vertonghen through an excellent through ball to break the deadlock. Belgium 0-1 Japan. 00:33 IST: Japan gets the second-half underway. Neither side have made any changes in the half-time. 00:15 IST: One minute added for the half-time. It remains Belgium 0-0 Japan at half-time as the referee blows the whistle. 00:14 IST: Courtois spills it, after Nagamoto plays a ball throw the left wing to find Osako who gets a touch as the goalkeeper grabs the ball on the second attempt. 00:09 IST: Eden Hazard brought down by Shibasaki as he collects the first yellow card of the evening. 40 minutes through, still goalless. 00:06 IST: Hazard shoots from inside the box, BLOCKED! Yoshida does well to keep the Chelsea star out. 36 minutes on the clock. 00:05 IST: Belgium stretched for a few seconds, Japan initiate an attack from the right flank, make a cross but lose the ball, quite easily. 00:01 IST: Shinji Kagawa does well inside the box, to get past the Belgian defenders, crosses the ball but the header straight into the hand of Thibaut Courtois 23:58 IST: Japan trying to play long balls, only to lose away the ball with ease to Belgium. 30 minutes on the clock. 23:55 IST: Chance for Belgium in the 25th minute, off a fine cross which locates Lukaku in space but Yoshida does well to keep him out. Constant threat from Belgium! 23:53 IST: Belgium have set the tempo, Japan forced to play on the defence. Lukaku from the right flank switches play Carrasco tries to play the ball to Hazard but the link-up play fails, the ball was a bit to heavy. 23:50 IST: Romelu Lukaku in space, takes a shot, unmarked but the defender does well to keep him out. CORNER for Belgium! Kevin de Bruyne takes it but the ball is safely cleared away by the Japan defence. 23:45 IST: Axel Witsel takes a shot from outside the box, deflected for CORNER!<doc-sep>Three of the four quarterfinalists on the “tougher” side of the bracket are now set, with Brazil joining France and Uruguay after beating Mexico, 2-0, earlier today. Facing off against the Selecao will be the winner of this match, widely expected to be Belgium. It is their “time to shine”, after all. But if there’s anything we learned in the past two weeks is that none of the teams should be taken lightly. If Belgium relax, Japan would surely take advantage. Hazard and Courtois start, as usual, with Batshuayi on the bench. Here we go. Belgium starting lineup (3-4-3): Courtois | Vertonghen, Kompany, Alderweireld | Carrasco, Witsel, De Bruyne, Meunier | E.Hazard (c), Lukaku, Mertens Substitutes from: Vermaelen, Fellaini, Mignolet, Casteels, T.Hazard, Tielemans, Januzaj, Dembele, Boyata, Batshuayi, Chadli, Dendoncker Japan starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Kawashima | Nagatomo, Shoji, Yoshida, Sakai | Shibasaki, Hasebe (c) | Inui, Kagawa, Haraguchi | Osako Substitutes from: Ueda, Honda, Endo, Okazaki, Higashiguchi, Muto, Yamaguchi, Oshima, Makino, Sakai, Nakamura Date / Time: Monday, July 2, 2018, 19:00 BST; 2pm EDT Venue: Rostov Arena, Rostov-on-Don Referee: Malang Diedhiou (Senegal) On TV: BBC One (UK); FOX, Telemundo (USA); elsewhere Streaming online: BBC iPlayer (UK); FOX Sports Go, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo; Sling World Cup (USA)<doc-sep>
UPDATE: Belgium have confirmed their lineup - Courtois; Vermaelen, Kompany, Alderweireld; Meunier, De Bruyne, Witsel, Carrasco; Mertens, E. Hazard; Lukaku. Could things get any more exciting and easier for the rest of the top teams at the World Cup? Four heavyweights (Germany, Argentina, Portugal, and Spain) have already been eliminated and we could see more upsets in the Round of 16. Belgium take on Japan today at the Rostov Arena and it promises to be an exciting encounter. Belgium were one of three teams to win all their group stage fixtures while Japan qualified by the skin of their teeth with the Fair Play table allowing them to qualify ahead of Senegal who had identical numbers everywhere else. Before the World Cup, Belgium were one of the 'dark horses' but with so many top teams out of the fray, they are now one of the favourites. with a galaxy of stars in the squad - the majority of who play in the Premier League - the Red Devils are clear favourites to beat the Blue Samurai. Belgium vs Japan: Pre-match quotes "This is our time to shine, definitely. We have top players and we play as a group, especially after the win over England," said Eden Hazard. "It's in our hands, we need to give everything and see what happens. Roberto Martinez is confident Belgium can reach the quarter-finals If Belgium coach Roberto Martinez's comments in the pre-match press conference are anything to go by, the European side cannot wait to get back on the pitch and get resume their campaign. "The group is in a very good moment mentally and physically, the players are desperate to be on the pitch. The ones who played against England had a really good experience. And the ones who were rested are waiting to get back on the pitch." - Roberto Martinez Wary of weaker teams sitting back and defending at this World Cup, Martinez also said that the team was practising penalties. However, Japan have been quite adventurous compared to other teams. "The players have been practising but nothing will prepare you for taking the penalty that will get you through to the next phase in the knockout stages of the World Cup," Martinez explained. Belgium Team News Romelu Lukaku was unavailable for the third group stage fixture against England but Martinez's second-string team got the job done with Adnan Januzaj scoring the winner. However, Lukaku will return to the lineup today - as will Hazard and Dries Mertens who were also rested. Kevin De Bruyne is one booking away from suspension The only problems the Belgians have right now are the yellow cards to their names. Kevin De Bruyne, Jan Vertonghen, Thomas Meunier, Leander Dendoncker, and Youri Tielemans are all one booking away from being suspended for the quarter-final if they qualify. How will Belgium line up against Japan? Thibaut Courtois will continue in goal for Belgium with Martinez opting for their traditional 3-4-2-1 formation. Thomas Vermaelen and Vincent Kompany will return to the bench with Jan Vertonghen and Dedryck Boyata returning in central defence to partner Toby Alderweireld. The midfield duo will see the return of Axel Witsel and Kevin De Bruyne with Tielemans and Mousa Dembele returning to the bench. The wing-back positions will see Yannick Carrasco on the left and Thomas Meunier on the right. Eden Hazard and Dries Mertens will start in their attacking midfield positions with both players playing in free roles behind Romelu Lukaku who is competing for the Golden Boot with 4 goals to his name. Belgium XI and Formation Belgium's Probable XI vs Japan Note: This article was updated after the starting lineups were announced. Who do you think will win this game? Let us know in the comments below.