Jump directly to the content
SAFE HAND

Japan’s goalkeeper could be their most unlikely World Cup saviour

Eiji Kawashima produced the save of the tournament so far

Gordon Banks, eat your heart out.

Eiji Kawashima could well be the toast of Japan for a very, very long time.

The goalkeeper and part-time David Seaman impersonator produced the save of the tournament in the first-half against Poland in their crucial World Cup clash.


CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiver


My body hurts just looking at that

AP:Associated Press
6
My body hurts just looking at that

The superhuman save saw Kawashima cover almost the full-length of his line to reach the ball, which was goal-bound after Kamil Grosicki’s header.

We’ve not seen a save this good for a long, long time.

The Hull City winger met the cross with a powerful header

6
The Hull City winger met the cross with a powerful header

Kawashima was over the other side of his goal and began his efforts to reach the ball

6
Kawashima was over the other side of his goal and began his efforts to reach the ball

Oh my…

6
Oh my…

Kawashima somehow kept it out

6
Kawashima somehow kept it out

Japan’s No1 had been relatively disappointing in the tournament so far.

The 35-year-old shot-stopper dropped a clanger and cost his side a goal against Senegal in their second group game.

Kawashima would have won back the heart’s of the nation however after his heroic save against Poland.

A strong contender for his new cover photo on Facebook

6
A strong contender for his new cover photo on Facebook

Kawashima was helpless when it came to keeping out Jan Bednarek’s second-half effort which put Poland 1-0 up.

If Japan do progress from the group, then Shinji Kagawa and co might well be the opposition for England in the round of 16.

Should the Three Lions finish top of Group G ahead of Belgium, and Japan finish runners up in Group H, then England and Japan will meet in the next round.

It’s definitely coming home.

CATCH UP ON THE LATEST WEIRD AND WONDERFUL NEWS FROM THE 2018 WORLD CUP