Honda came off the bench with the scores level at 2-2 as Japan threw away a two-goal advantage before Nacer Chadli’s last-gasp strike took Roberto Martinez’s side into the quarter-finals and leave the Japanese frustrated yet again.
This was the third time Japan have exited the competition at the Round of 16 having lost to Turkey in 2002 and Paraguay in South Africa in 2010, a game in which Honda played as the Samurai Blue were knocked out in a penalty shootout.
“That time our team more than 90 percent were playing in Japan and only three or four players were playing in Europe,” said the 32-year-old of the team’s previous appearance in the knockout phase.
“That time we played long ball and we couldn’t keep the ball and we couldn’t create chances. We can’t compare the game against Paraguay and today.
“Today we showed how we can proceed as Japanese football. I might have finished my career for the national team but I’m happy because we have many young players following us and I think that they will make new history for Japanese football.”
Japan impressed against the heavily fancied Belgians, with Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui scoring inside the first seven minutes of the second half to give Akira Nishino’s side a two-goal advantage.
Headers from Jan Vertonghen and Marouane Fellaini levelled the scores before Belgium scored a breakaway goal in the dying seconds through Chadli to shatter Japan’s hopes and take the European side into a last eight showdown with Brazil.
“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. “Belgium deserved to win the game and they played well as well.
“But I'm proud of the team because the starting members played really aggressively and I think all of the Japanese people are proud of us so I’m satisfied with the team. On the other hand, I had the chance to score and my teammates expected that I would score after I was substituted. I couldn’t get the result myself and that’s bad.”
Honda is now hoping Japan’s performance at the FIFA World Cup will see more players from the nation transfer to the leading leagues of Europe, with those moves proving beneficial to the long-term fortunes of the national team.
“We have learned a lot from Spanish football,” he said. “We don’t have physicality but we have technique. As you’ve seen we have good midfielders and the Japanese league has a lot of these qualities. They can play in Spain or Germany in teams that want to keep the ball.
“I think today in this game we gave European clubs a message that they should bring more Japanese players, not just the national team players. I hope after this World Cup they’re going to take a lot of new talents.”
Photos: FIFA via Getty Images
