Image source, Getty Images

Belgium midfielder Marouane Fellaini has thanked Jose Mourinho for his "faith" after signing a new two-year contract at Manchester United.

The 30-year-old, whose previous deal was due to expire on 30 June, had been expected to leave Old Trafford.

United manager Jose Mourinho said he wanted to keep Fellaini and the club spent the past few months trying to persuade him to stay.

"I made this decision because I am very happy here," said Fellaini.

"I feel like this team, under Jose, still has a lot we want to achieve. I would like to say a special thank you to Jose for the faith he has always shown in me."

Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez: "I think there is a belief; we've been undefeated for a long long time.

"There is a real understanding among the players and it's an opportunity to face the best teams in the world... I think we've done everything we can as a group to prepare ourselves."

Starting both of Vincent Kompany and Thomas Vermaelen in the same XI strikes me as a gamble.

That's at least one sub needed for injury...

Belgium and Japan set up this last 16 clash in differing, but equally odd, circumstances. Belgium's second string beat England's second string in a game that no one was entirely sure they wanted to win. Roberto Martinez's side emerged victorious and now find themselves in the potentially unfavourable side of the draw alongside Brazil and France.

The last 10 minutes of Japan's final group game against Poland were nothing short of farcical. Coach Akira Nishino ordered his side to shut up shop and not give away any bookings in the hope that a 1-0 defeat would be enough to see them qualify.

It was, and they became the first team in World Cup history to progress because of fair play, having accrued fewer yellow cards than Senegal. It did little to endear the Japanese to neutral football fans who watched a game concluded at walking pace to a chorus of cat calls and boos.

This is only the third time the Blue Samurai have reached the knockout stage of the World Cup, after 2002 and 2010. They now face a Belgium side who scored more goals than any other team in the group stage.

Japan have shuffled the pack after they squaked through on yellow cards, making six changes.

Full line-up to follow.

Already, Friday is looking like being a very, very good day indeed.

What time do you need to call in sick? Maybe start putting on a cold about Wednesday afternoon...

Image source, BBC Sport

Belgium make nine changes from the second string which beat England.

All the big names are back, as Romelu Lukaku and Eden Hazard join Kevin de Bruyne in the side. Vincent Kompany makes his first start.

Full team to come.

While all the talk - in England anyway - has been about the so-called easy' bottom half of the draw, Belgium have ended up 90 minutes away from a quarter-final with Brazil.

I remain to be utterly convinced by this Brazil side, but they made it through this afternoon by beating a spirited Mexico XI...

Twenty four professional teams.

Three official languages.

Eleven million hopeful fans.

One golden generation.

Belgium have a squad blessed with some of the best players in Europe, and they have the former Wigan manager in charge.

They may never have a better chance of winning a World Cup.

Can they book a place in the quarter-finals tonight?

Or will they do a Batshuayi...?