AFP, Russia :
Keisuke Honda said Japan could be proud despite exiting the World Cup in the most agonising manner.
Their players slumped to the turf after Nacer Chadli slammed the ball into the net at the end of a 94th-minute counter-attack, the last move of the game
in Rostov-on-Don allowing Belgium to clinch a stunning 3-2 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Among the pre-tournament favourites in Russia, Eden Hazard and the Belgians march on to a last-eight meeting with Brazil after scoring one of the latest winning goals in a World Cup game.
But a crushed Japan head home having been two goals ahead midway through the second half on a steamy night on the banks of the Don River.
“As you see, we were not afraid to play against Belgium and we showed that for 90 minutes but unfortunately we couldn’t win the game,” said Honda.
The 32-year-old had come off the bench late on and forced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois from a free-kick in stoppage time just before Japan conceded the deciding goal.
“Belgium deserved to win the game, but I am proud of the team because the starting members played really aggressively,” he said.
“I think all Japanese people also are proud of us, so I am satisfied about the team.”
While Honda was dignified in defeat, Japan are entitled to feel they deserved better after a superbly disciplined performance.
Maya Yoshida marshalled their back line and Eiji Kawashima – a goalkeeper
who has been relegated in both Scotland and France in the past three seasons – made several vital interceptions.
There was plenty of technical quality on display as well, with the two goals scored early in the second half by Genki Haraguchi and the excellent Takashi Inui both worthy of the biggest stage.
