Japan's footballers today brought their nation to a standstill by qualifying for the second round of the World Cup.

The co-hosts did it in style, beating Tunisia 2-0 in Nagai to claim top spot in Group H.

They are joined in the last 16 by Belgium, dramatic 3-2 winners over Russia.

Supersub Hiroaki Morishima and Japanese superstar Hidetoshi Nakata were the men who scored the goals to put the co-hosts in the last 16 for the first time in their history.

Japan, who had never picked up a point before these finals, now head to Miyagi where they will face Turkey, who yesterday booked their second-round berth for the first time.

Both sides started extremely tentatively in today's tussle, perhaps the co-hosts feeling the weight of expectation from the 45,000 fans.

After Japan's fearless attacking in their first two games, their early tentative style would have come as a surprise to the expectant public.

Nakata and Shinji Ono attempted to prompt a more urgent approach from midfield, while Junichi Inamoto's runs from deep again looked the most likely to bring about a breakthrough.

Atsushi Yanagisawa had Japan's first shot on target in the 33rd minute, Tunisia goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel saving the 20-yard left-foot strike low down.

Boumnijel's opposite number Seigo Narazaki was even more redundant in the first half.

Tunisia out of their shell in the closing minutes of the half with Khaled Badra coming close with a header.

Then in stoppage time, Kazuyuki Toda seemed to bring down Hatem Trabelsi in the area, but no penalty was forthcoming from referee Gilles Veissiere.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier's half-time team talk seemed to do the trick, and the home side's greater urgency soon brought about the opener.

Three minutes after the restart, Suzuki raced down the right and after the ball broke loose to half-time sub Morishima, he dispatched it into the net from eight yards.

The midfielder almost grabbed his second in the 53rd minute, only to see his header rebound back off the post into Boumnijel's arms.

Japan kept up the pressure, with Ono's downward header bringing a good save from Boumnijel.

After a promising brief spell from Tunisia, the Japanese reasserted their dominance in the 75th minute.

Daisuke Ichikawa, another half-time sub, swung in a cross from the right, and Nakata threw himself at the ball to head home.

Tunisia almost grabbed a consolation eight minutes from time, only for Ali Zitouni's snap-shot from inside the area to cannon back off the crossbar.

Ono attempted to prompt a more urgent approach from midfield, while Junichi Inamoto's runs from deep again looked the most likely to bring about a breakthrough.

Atsushi Yanagisawa had Japan's first shot on target in the 33rd minute, Tunisia goalkeeper Ali Boumnijel saving the 20-yard left-foot strike low down.

Japan coach Philippe Troussier's half-time team talk seemed to do the trick, and the home side's greater urgency soon brought about the opener.

Three minutes after the restart, Suzuki raced down the right and after the ball broke loose to half-time sub Morishima, he dispatched it into the net from eight yards.

The midfielder almost grabbed his second in the 53rd minute, only to see his header rebound back off the post into Boumnijel's arms.

After a promising brief spell from Tunisia, the Japanese reasserted their dominance in the 75th minute.

Daisuke Ichikawa, another half-time sub, swung in a cross from the right, and Nakata threw himself at the ball to head home.

Tunisia almost grabbed a consolation eight minutes from time, only for Ali Zitouni's snap-shot from inside the area to cannon back off the crossbar.

Troussier is hoping people around the world now understand the quality of Japanese football.

He said: "It is not recognised as it should be, particularly in Europe," said the Frenchman.

"We have had a project that has been going for four years now and we have had the Japanese public behind us.

"This is a victory of the Japanese spirit, of the Japanese courage and the willingness to be aggressive by taking on the opponents."