Belgium’s reward for topping Group G at the 2018 FIFA World Cup is a clash with Japan in the round of 16. The Red Devils beat England 1-0 on Thursday to secure top spot a few hours after the Samarai Blue lost 1-0 to Poland. They advanced behind Colombia in Group H by having a better fair-play record than Senegal.
Lukaku and Eden Hazard were among those left out against England, but they will return here. With six goals and an assist between them, they have maintained their superb form for their national sides at the World Cup. In the past year, Japan have kept just two clean sheets from 13 matches, and those came against Australia and North Korea. They are vulnerable at the back, and with Belgium’s attacking quality, this should only go one way.