Happy homecomings, tournament highlights, match-winning celebrations, a stunning save and a new contract are all included in this week’s selection of the latest happenings both inside and outside of Russia.

Many of the Samurai Blue shone in the first round while, although departed, a number of players from Asia’s four other representatives grabbed the world’s attention. The-AFC.com has chosen five for you to vote for your standout performer.

“We’re confident at the moment,” Kagawa said following training on Sunday ahead of the clash against World No 3 Belgium at the Rostov Arena. “We’ve been making the finer adjustments as we’ve come along.

“We have a chance to accomplish what Japanese football has never done before. We’re trying to go where none of us have gone before and I really hope we can achieve what we set out to achieve.”

At stake for Japan is a first-ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup quarter-finals and having qualified for the Round of 16 by the finest of margins, the Samurai Blue will be on a mission to extend their Russia 2018 campaign.

Having achieved several highs - their 2-1 win over Colombia was the first ever by an Asian team over a South American opposition in the FIFA World Cup and Japan are the first team from the Continent to make the Knockout Stage three times - Akira Nishino's men will be aiming to make more history.

Nishino, 63, has done brilliantly to get the Samurai Blue into the Knockout Stage, having only stepped in for predecessor Vahid Halilhodzic in April.

The players, Son assured the fans, would not allow the result - which eliminated 2014 FIFA World Cup winners Germany - to make them complacent.

"I am sorry to our fans that we didn't live up to our promise of reaching the knockout stage," Son said. "But I think we all saw some hope from the win over Germany.

"However, the win over Germany doesn't mean we are satisfied. We will continue to work hard," said the Tottenham Hotspur forward.

It was a thrilling final round of fixtures in which Korea Republic stunned Germany, the Islamic Republic of Iran came agonisingly close to beating Portugal and Saudi Arabia claimed three points against Egypt. The-AFC.com looks back at the standout facts and figures from a week that will live long in the memory.

With the first knockout round set to kick off today, the-AFC.com looks back at the five previous times when Asian sides have progressed beyond the group stage and into the business end of the global showpiece.