With an incredible comeback in the second half, Japan defeated Spain, won World Cup Group E, and advanced to the round of 16 to play Croatia.
Germany will exit the group stage for the second time in a row as a result of Japan’s astonishing victory at Khalifa International Stadium. Germany was the team that Hajime Moriyasu’s team trailed at the half eight days prior to coming back to win 2-1.
Alvaro Morata gave La Roja the lead in the 11th minute of the game, but Japan turned the tide early in the second half by tying the score through Ritsu Doan before Ao Tanaka scored the game-winning goal in the 51st minute.
The winning goal, however, was controversial because it appeared to go out before it reached the Japan midfielder, who was in a perfect position to score.
Spain came in second and will play Morocco on Tuesday, while Hajime Moriyasu’s team won the section and will play Croatia in the round of 16 on Monday.
With a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica to end their group stage, Germany advanced, but Hansi Flick’s team was eliminated from the competition.
In the 22nd minute, Morata was given another chance, but he was unable to beat the Japan goalkeeper this time. Olmo then saw a close-range attempt blocked as La Roja appeared poised to win the game for their team.
Spain dominated the first half of play, astonishingly having 83% of the possession, and Japan showed their frustration by receiving three yellow cards toward the end of the first period.
When Doan scored a goal for Samurai Blue in the 48th minute, the score was even. However, Spain’s Unai Simon, who stopped the shot, handled it poorly because he had two hands on it.
Tanaka, a midfielder for Japan, miraculously assisted Kaoru Mitoma in the second goal, which came in the 53rd minute. On initial inspection, it did seem as though the ball had gone behind before Mitoma delivered, but a VAR review confirmed that the goal would stand, flipping the group on its head.
Given Japan’s difficulties in the first half, the turnaround was remarkable. In response, Spain’s manager Luis Enrique brought on both Torres and Asensio, with Ansu Fati and Alba coming on ten minutes later.
Mitoma’s low cross gave Japan a fantastic opportunity to score a third goal, but Takuma Asano missed the target.
As it stood, Spain would have been eliminated from the tournament after Costa Rica took charge against Germany in the 70th minute. However, Flick’s team quickly levelled the score before winning the match.
Spain was playing it risky because Japan posed a constant threat on the break, but La Roja was in control of the ball as the game moved toward its decisive exchanges.
In the 89th minute, Asensio’s long-range shot was successfully blocked by Gonda, who then turned aside Olmo’s attempt shortly after.
Olmo then missed the goal in the dying seconds, but Japan miraculously held onto first place in Group E with a total of six points from their three games.
All things considered, Spain and Japan both advance to the Round of 16. Morata gave Spain the lead in the first half, but Japan mounted a stunning comeback in the second half thanks to goals from Doan and Tanaka. This, along with the fact that Germany defeated Costa Rica in the other group game, results in Japan advancing as the group winner and Spain advancing as the runner-up.
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