Jul 03 (Kyodo) - A "devastated" Japan head coach Akira Nishino took the blame for the 3-2 loss to Belgium that knocked his team out of the World Cup on Monday, saying he made tactical errors.
The Samurai Blue led 2-0 in the second half at Rostov Arena but allowed the World No. 3 side to snatch a come-from-behind victory in the round of 16.
Goals from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui put the star-studded Belgium team on the verge of elimination, but Japan conceded three times in the last 16 minutes plus injury time to see their dreams of a first quarterfinal berth disappear.
Moments after the loss, the former Japan Football Association technical director admitted he may have allowed Belgium to snatch victory in the fourth minute of added time by failing to adjust his lineup when his team led.
"We were 2-0 up and still the score was reversed. I don't think the players were to blame, I think it was me who might have lost control of the game," the 63-year-old Nishino said.
