Scorum / worldcup 2018

It's a special day, humanity had to endure me for exactly 20 years today. However it's not my youth I am going to brag about. We are talking football here. The most memorable match of my life happened not all too long ago. I will take you back to July 2 of this year, Belgium played the 1/8 finals of the World Cup against Japan. Belgium Japan The Belgian Red Devils became the leader of group G, winning every match. At work, on the playground at home, everyone talked about football. The dream of becoming World Champion lived among the Belgian people. Every match Belgium played, people gathered together at squares and at home to watch football together. The match Belgium/Japan was no different. I decided to watch the match with some of my friends at a big screen set up in a city nearby. Half an hour before the match started the square started to fill up with people. A dozen, a hundred, a thousand people came together as mental support for OUR Belgian team. When the players entered the arena and we had our first glimpse of the team, the crowd went wild. We sang songs for Eden Hazard, we cheered for Kevin de Bruyne and praised Thibaut Courtios. After a breathtaking moment of a whole city square filled with people singing the Belgian national anthem together, the match started... A dominating Belgium The match started off strong for our Red Devils. Hazard was as concentrated as ever. He was always on the move, took initiative and looked for the opening in Japan's defences. Axel Witsel created the first chance for Belgium provoking a corner. The 'Belgian airforce' was at the front row, without success. Romelu Lukaku was delighted, dividing the game and attacking sharp, another corner in Belgium's advantage. Unfortunately no goal, another missed opportunity. The first half Japan occasionally knew to pierce Belgian defences. But grandmaster Thibaut Courtois secured the goal with ease. At the 44th minute of the first half a small mistake of Courtois almost costed Belgium a point but he could fix his mistake in no time. The first half ended with 0-0 at the scoreboard. Time for a break As the teams left the field for a break, we deserved a break as well. The tension was high, we saw the Red Devils had the upper hand, but there still was no goal scored. I felt like it only was a matter of time before one of the Belgian attacks worked successfully. The crowd was singing and dancing to uplifting music in the background, but I still was focussed on the match. This was it, this was Belgium's chance to make name for themselves. Nail biting minutes The second half started. It seemed like Japan was reborn. They were as dangerous as ever, pressuring trough the Belgian defences. A choke by Vertonghen gave Haraguchi the chance to shoot at Courtois' goal. The Japanese midfielder finished Courtois off in cold blood. Belgium 0, Japan 1... Morales depleted at the square, this goal caught us by surprise. The invincible team we had suddenly didn't look all too invincible anymore. Only 1 minute after Japan's goal, Eden Hazard was out for blood. He passed the Japanese defence with ease and took a shot at the goal. With a hell of a kick the ball flew trough the air. Unfortunately the luck wasn't at our side, the ball went straight for the post. Japan wasn't done yet. They launched another attack, this time it is Inui who managed to score with a fast ball into the goal. Chaos and panic raised at the city square as well as on the field. The Devils seemed disorientated. Is this how our World Cup ends? The awaited comeback The Belgian coach, Roberto Martinez, knew something had to change. He switched the wing players, Carrasco and Mertens, to the air specialist Meroune Fellani and the fast Nacer Chadli. Of all people it was Jan Vertonghen who scored the first goal for Belgium with perhaps the longest header in World Cup history. This was what Belgium needed. The players as well as the fans carried hope. And sometimes hope can be the most powerful drive. Hazard set up an attack and outplayed the Japanese defences with his trademark turns and tricks. He managed to play the ball up high in Fellani's direction. With a powerful header Fellani secured the 2-2. I remember I sighed of relief when the second Belgian goal was made. This match had already been a rollercoaster of emotions for all of us. The dream wasn't lost yet. With only a couple of minutes left on the clock, Belgium as well as Japan put up a last effort to score the winning point. Honda put up an amazing free kick at the Belgian goal, but Courtois knew how to pick the ball out of the air. With a fantastic counter attack Chadli put the ball into the Japanese goal, claiming the key to the next round for Belgium. That night we partied a whole night long. What a match! Thanks for reading! If you liked it consider giving me an upvote :) Best regards, Wouter