Japan set to stick to the plan

ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia — Keisuke Honda said Japan has a blueprint for the future despite being knocked out of the World Cup in painful fashion by Belgium on Monday.

Akira Nishino’s side was leading 2-0 in Rostov-on-Don thanks to goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui, and was seemingly headed for the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

But Belgium fought back and completed the turnaround with a 94th-minute winner from substitute Nacer Chadli to advance to a lasteight showdown with Brazil.

Once again the Japanese failed to win a World Cup knockout tie, after previous losses at this stage as co-host in 2002, and in 2010.

But Honda, one of the great Japan players of his generation who is now 32, said this loss should not be compared with the penalty shootout defeat to Paraguay at the same stage in South Africa eight years ago.

“That time, our team was more than 90 percent playing in Japan, with just three or four playing in Europe,” said Honda, who came off the bench late against Belgium.

“We played just long ball and we couldn’t keep the ball, we couldn’t make chances like today, so we can’t compare.

“Today we showed how we proceed as Japanese football.”

Honda, though, indicated he is likely to call time on his own international career despite closing in on 100 caps.

“I might finish my career for the national team, but I am happy because many young players are following us and I think that they will make new history for Japanese football,” said the former CSKA Moscow and AC Milan man, now playing in Mexico for Pachuca.

The majority of Japan’s squad is based in Europe, and Honda hopes clubs from the continent will look even more closely to the J.League in future.