Belgium takes on Japan in a round of 16 tie, of FIFA World Cup 2018, with a vast gulf regarding talent between the two side which should not matter considering the stage which often gets the best out of every player. Belgium won all of their group games while Japan needed a stroke of luck in the form of FIFA fair play rules where their fewer yellow cards helped them leapfrog Senegal. But, in Belgium, they, will be up against a level of football they have not yet come across. Getting past the Red Devils will surely make it Japan’s greatest footballing achievement.

Romelu Lukaku, the Manchester United forward who has scored four goals in the World Cup so far, will return to action against Japan after sitting out the England tie with an ankle injury. Eden Hazard and Kevin De Bruyne, the creative minds of the team will also feature from the start and the due could possibly be too hot to handle for the Japanese defense with their pace, trickery and vision. De Bruyne, who is on a yellow card, will have to be wary of any caution that could prevent him from playing the quarter finals.

There are also talks from the Belgium camp of star defender Vincent Kompany playing this crucial match but there is nothing concrete about it. The Manchester City skipper has not played a single minute in the cup but has the backing of the management to feature during the crucial knock out phase of the World Cup. Aden Januzaj, the match winner against the Three Lions, has a bruise in the knee and may not play any part in the game.

Japan have an injury problem of their own with forward Shinji Okazaki to recover from an ankle injury and his absence will severely blunt Japan’s attack. Skipper Makoto Hasebe, the calming influence in the middle of the park will start along with front man Yuya Osako. Keisuke Honda became Japan’s first player to score at three World Cup’s and he could be vital coming off the bench if Japan manage to stretch the game.

Shinji Kagawa is another impact player for Japan but it is unclear about the time he will get on the pitch for Japan. His passing can be utilized by Japan to test the Belgium defense who have not been put under any real pressure in Russia so far. Japan will like to be in the game for as long as possible to give themselves the best chance to get past Belgium taking inspiration from Russia. But, Belgium are in good touch compared to Spain hence it looks a pretty arduous task.

When will Belgium vs Japan Football Match Take Place? Time, Schedule, and Venue Details of Round of 16, Match 6:

The sixth match of the pre-quarterfinal round in 2018 FIFA World Cup will see Belgium lock horns with Japan. The Round of 16 match will begin at 7.30 pm (IST) and is scheduled to place at Samara Arena, in Russia.

Will the LIVE telecast of Belgium vs Japan Football Match Available in India?

Yes, the viewers can watch Belgium vs Japan (Round of 16, Match 6) live telecast in India. The broadcasting rights of FIFA World Cup 2018 is held by Sony Pictures Networks. The pre-quarterfinal match between Belgium vs Japan will be telecast LIVE on Sony Ten 2/Sony Ten 2 HD (English), Sony Ten 3/Sony Ten 3 HD (Hindi) and Sony ESPN (Bengali, Malayalam, Tamil, and Telugu) TV channels.

Belgium vs Japan FIFA World Cup 2018 Match; Is Free Live Streaming Available Online in India?

If the viewers are not able to watch on their television sets, they can watch it online without any worry. The Round of 16, Match 6, between Belgium and Japan at FIFA World Cup 2018 can be viewed online through free live streaming which will be available on Sony Liv. Also, the viewers will be able to catch up on the live updates of the game on LatestLY here.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 02, 2018 07:07 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).