Despite falling to Japan 2-1 on Thursday, a team that miraculously topped Group E on a wild night that saw four-time winners Germany ousted, Spain stumbled through to the World Cup’s round of 16.
After defeating Germany in their initial match, Japan achieved again another amazing victory, their exit from the “group of death” being one of the best in their footballing history.
Spain was in danger of being eliminated when Costa Rica took the lead in the other game, but the 2010 champions survived after Germany did them a favor by rallying to defeat Los Ticos.
Spain and Germany both finished with four points, but La Roja advanced due to goal differential.
Spain took the lead early on thanks to a spectacular header from Alvaro Morata, but Japan dramatically responded at the start of the second half.
Similar to their incredible comeback against Germany, they mounted it thanks to goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka.
Tanaka’s goal was very debatable since the referee used video assistant to determine that Kaoru Mitoma had kept the ball in play just barely enough to set Tanaka up.
In the latter minutes, Spain struggled to generate chances against a resolute Japanese defense because the Asian team was conscious that another goal would send them home.
The fatigued and jubilant Japanese players collapsed in jubilation at the end of the game, as the replacements sped off to celebrate.
In the round of 16, Spain will play Morocco, and Japan will play Croatia.
– Rollercoaster night –
Both teams made five substitutions, and Luis Enrique gave Alejandro Balde and Nico Williams their complete debuts in addition to putting in Morata to lead the line.
Japan started with five defenders in the back to try to contain Spain while pressing high in attack to try to profit from any errors.
Pau Torres’ clumsy touch, which gave Japan its first opportunity and allowed Junya Ito to shoot into the side-netting, is an example of the flagrant defensive mistakes Spain frequently makes.
With a powerful header from Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross in the 12th minute, Morata gave La Roja the lead. This move revived the connection that occasionally worked at Chelsea after the striker’s arrival in 2017.
At the half, Japan’s coach Hajime Moriyasu substituted Mitoma and Doan for the ineffective Takefuso Kubo and Yuto Nagatomo, and it immediately paid off.
Winger Doan hammered past Unai Simon from the edge of the box after Balde lost possession of the ball under pressure. Simon could have done more to stop the shot.
Three minutes later, Japan had completely changed the course of the match when Tanaka scored from close to the goal line after Mitoma had improbably maintained the ball in play while crossing it, per VAR.
In an effort to regain control, Luis Enrique made a number of replacements but shell-shocked Spain struggled to react.
When Costa Rica seized the lead against Germany in the other game to go up 2-1, the coach, who was by himself and perched on the edge of his technical area, was unaware that for a little period of time his team faced elimination.
- On a night that was much scarier than expected, Spain advanced thanks to their better goal difference, and Japan secured an almost unlikely victory.
