Nagatomo: Japan have nothing to lose

• ​Japan squeezed through to the last 16 yesterday
• They will now face Belgium in Rostov
• Nagatomo assesses their chances and campaign thus far

By Hidetoshi Suzuki with Japan 

It is a rarity indeed that a thrashing closes in festivities, yet Japan yesterday developed as the special case to the run the show. In spite of the fact that the Samurai Blue lost 1-0 to Poland in Volgograd, their adventures prior in the crusade - and a better Fair Play focuses adjust than Senegal - saw them progress in front of the Poles and Lions of Teranga, both of whom sit higher in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking.

For Yuto Nagatomo, who is playing in his third FIFA World Cup™ with Japan, that accomplishment of achieving the Round of 16 is more than deserving of celebrating in.

"The other three groups in the gathering have more quality than us and each amusement was troublesome," Nagatomo told FIFA.com. "The outcome (capability) is something we can be happy about."

Nagatomo knows superior to anything most not to underestimate such accomplishments. At Brazil 2014, he was a piece of a Japan group that fell at the primary obstacle after one draw and two annihilations. Anyway, what has the distinction been between that battle and this one?

"We recognize what we are prepared to do now, and we have played persistently," he said. "This time, each player has done the fundamental thing of continuing running until the finish of the diversion. Furthermore, we have been joined as a group. I imagine that is the fundamental motivation behind why we've experienced this time."

Gotten some information about his own improvement since 2014, he was more unobtrusive. "Specifically, I have not enhanced a great deal but rather I'm generally helped and upheld by my colleagues, and that feels superb," he said. "I might want to express gratitude toward them for that."

Japan will now confront Belgium, who sit an elevated third in the most recent World Ranking, on 2 July in Rostov. Nagatomo trusts it's a match Japanese fans should anticipate and relish, especially if the group keep on displaying the collaboration and diligent work he accepts has got them this far.

"It will be a hard match. Belgium are a superior group than us," he conceded evidently. "Be that as it may, Japan would now be able to play with certainty. We don't have anything to lose."