Belgium 3-2 Japan: 5 Talking Points as Belgium mount an unbelievable comeback over Japan, World Cup 2018

#2 Uncharacteristic Belgium need fine-tuning

Martinez might want to consider better ways in which he can utilize De Bruyne

Belgium looked like a shadow of the side that romped to a 5-2 win over Tunisia, arguably their best performance of the tournament so far, during the group stages and struggled to find an opening for prolonged periods in the game.

Japan's rigid structure at the back while defending surely deserves credit but without the shadow of a doubt, Roberto Martinez's men were far from convincing in the initial stages of the game.

The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Eden Hazard and Romelu Lukaku failed to stamp their authority on the game in the first half and were uncharacteristically not at their usual standards.

De Bruyne is a fabulous footballer capable of playing a variety of roles but his abilities are more suited to play higher up the field in a free-role rather than playing alongside Axel Witsel from a deep position in midfield.

The players might have redeemed themselves in the second half by playing a key role in the goals that completed the comeback but it is as clear as daylight that tactically superior sides would have put Belgium to the sword.