That 3rd Belgian goal in 2018 is one of my favourite World Cup goals.
In the short match highlights you can see Sakai (no 19) up for the late attacking corner, being one of the taller Japanese players I guess, but then none of his team mates cover the wide space on the right flank where he would have been otherwise, as Belgium launch their last minute counter from Courtois's throw.
Vertonghen also scored the Belgian's first from a long looping header that Sakai watches sail over him, into the net. Yeah Auckland's captain has played on the biggest stage, and apparently he's pretty famous & loved in his home country. Might have his own little Japanese expat fan club at Mt Smart and at other venues around the league. Taylor never had that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJeJuc27ggE
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/07/02/world/world-cup/belgium/japan/2166115/
In the short match highlights you can see Sakai (no 19) up for the late attacking corner, being one of the taller Japanese players I guess, but then none of his team mates cover the wide space on the right flank where he would have been otherwise, as Belgium launch their last minute counter from Courtois's throw.
Vertonghen also scored the Belgian's first from a long looping header that Sakai watches sail over him, into the net. Yeah Auckland's captain has played on the biggest stage, and apparently he's pretty famous & loved in his home country. Might have his own little Japanese expat fan club at Mt Smart and at other venues around the league. Taylor never had that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJeJuc27ggE
https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2018/07/02/world/world-cup/belgium/japan/2166115/