In the 2018 World Cup 2nd Round, favourites Belgium played Japan in a quite-unforgettable match. Against all the Phil Collins odds; Japan had taken a 2-goal lead through Genki Haraguchi & Takashi Inui. It looked all but settled. But Belgium had not given up yet. Led by the astute former Everton manager Roberto Martinez; they masterminded a comeback for the ages. And it was Martinez who made that messianic double-substitution; bringing on Marouane Fellaini & Nacer Chadli for Dries Mertens and Yannick Carrasco.
And it was here the match turned. With Felliani now bossing the midfield; it allowed Kevin De Bruyne to move further upfield to influence proceedings. And on the 69th minute; Tottenham Hotspur's Jan Vertonghen pulled one back with an amazing 15-yard looping header. Japan were still looking OK; but in the 74th minute the match was pulled level as Eden Hazard's lovely left-wing cross was headed home brilliantly by the towering 6'4" Fellaini. With the match now in overdrive; both sides continued to have chances.
But deep into injury time; something happened that would have serious repercussions on Japan's football psyche for years to come. AC Milan legend Keisuke Honda hit an absolutely brilliant free-kick from 40 yards that was brilliantly saved by Thibaut Courtois. And from the resulting corner; Japan go for broke; bringing multiple players forward in the hope of scoring a last-ditch winner. Alas; Courtois claims the corner and instinctively sends De Bruyne on his way. The Man City star fed the excellent Thomas Meunier down the right; who sends in a low cross that is turned in by Chadli with the Japanese players looking on aghast. Even today, Japanese players such as ex-Leicester City star Shinji Okazaki has spoken of the pain they felt; at being so close to a historic World Cup quarter-final; committing too many players forward and losing in the dying moments 3-2 when they had been 2-0 up.
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