📰 Table Of Contents
Match report
A chaotic night of action in World Cup Group E ultimately culminated in both Spain and Japan booking their places in the competition’s Last-16.
Luis Enrique’s Spain made the trip to the Khalifa International Stadium a short time ago.
Boasting four points from their opening two fixtures, La Roja went toe to toe with the aforementioned Japan, in the knowledge that another victory would see them guaranteed of table-topping status come the conclusion of the action in Group E.
Japan, though, had just days ago proven themselves capable of giant-killing, courtesy of a remarkable turnaround downing of Germany.
And, when all was said and done on Thursday evening, it was indeed the Samurai Blue who, once more, emerged triumphant on the grandest stage.
After falling behind early on upon Alvaro Morata nodding home his third of the tournament from close range, Japan soon showcased their remarkable fighting spirit once more.
Alvaro Morata makes it 3 goals in 3 games with this bullet header!! 🙌🇪🇸
Could he challenge for the Golden Boot at the end of the tournament…? 🤔#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/tG75z4POaW
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 1, 2022
Then, before Spain even had time to gather themselves, the comeback was complete, upon Ao Tanaka slotting home amid controversial circumstances:
In the blink of an eye, Japan turn things around! 🫣
Did it cross the line though…? 👀#ITVFootball | #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Y8C5FdBSVK
— ITV Football (@itvfootball) December 1, 2022
From here, as expected, it was the Spaniards who controlled proceedings, pushing hard for a leveller of their own amid ongoing chaos in Germany’s meeting with Costa Rica.
Upon the final whistle sounding in Al Rayyan, though, Enrique’s troops simply couldn’t carve out as much, in the face of a resolute Japanese backline.
Despite Germany’s eventual three-point haul of their own, this meant that, incredibly, it was Japan who advanced as Group E winners, with Spain limping through as runners-up.
Player ratings
Japan
- Shuichi Gonda – 6.5
- Ko Itakura – 6
- Maya Yoshida – 6.5
- Shogo Taniguchi – 6.5
- Junya Ito – 6
- Hidemasa Morita – 7
- Ao Tanaka – 7.5
- Yuto Nagatomo – 5.5
- Daichi Kamada – 6
- Take – 5.5
- Daizen Maeda – 6.5
Substitutes: Ritsu Doan – 7.5, Kaoru Mitoma – 7, Takuma Asano – 5.5, Takehiro Tomiyasu – 6, Wataru Endo – 5.5
Spain
- Unai Simon – 5
- Cesar Azpilicueta – 6.5
- Rodri – 6.5
- Pau Torres – 5.5
- Alejandro Balde – 5
- Sergio Busquets – 5.5
- Gavi – 6.5
- Pedri – 6
- Nico Williams – 5
- Dani Olmo – 5.5
- Alvaro Morata – 7
Substitutes: Dani Carvajal – 6, Ferran Torres – 5.5, Marco Asensio – 5.5, Ansu Fati – 5, Jordi Alba – 5.5
Key statistics
Álvaro Morata is now Spain’s fifth highest scorer of all-time with 30 goals in 60 appearances.
Put some respect on his name 👏 pic.twitter.com/LKcxTcI2rM
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 1, 2022
Players who have scored in all three group games:
Cody Gakpo
Álvaro Morata*end of list* pic.twitter.com/HEqwvFIPnl
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 1, 2022
3 – Each of Japan’s last three goals at the World Cup have been scored by substitutes, as many as they’d scored via subs in their first 20 goals in the competition. Switch. pic.twitter.com/6OiZSDDsGP
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2022
For the first time in the World Cup’s 92-year history, Germany have been knocked out in the first round at back-to-back tournaments:
❌ 2018: LWL
❌ 2022: LDWGutting for the Germans.
— William Hill (@WilliamHill) December 1, 2022
Ritsu Doan has scored 50% of Japan’s goals at the World Cup so far, coming on as a substitute on both occasions.
Impact from the bench. 💥 pic.twitter.com/ohDe6xlEUV
— Statman Dave (@StatmanDave) December 1, 2022
3 – Japan are only the third team in World Cup history to win two different games at a single edition in which they were losing at half-time, after Brazil in 1938 and Germany in 1970. Heroics. pic.twitter.com/PuAKio5wR7
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2022
With 17.7% of the ball, Japan have won a World Cup game with the lowest possession figure in recorded WC history.#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/WTu4v4bTTd
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) December 1, 2022
Fan reaction
Costs Rica 2 Germany 1
Japan 2 Spain 1Qatar got the drunkest World Cup of all time 🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻🍻 https://t.co/hIgbEpuPuJ
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 1, 2022
COSTA RICA, ARE YOU KIDDING?
SPAIN AND GERMANY ARE OUT AS IT STANDS 😳 pic.twitter.com/mzj4aGekwa
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 1, 2022
Busquets, he’s playing against us. pic.twitter.com/Jmq6b5iG0u
— M•A•J (@Ultra_Suristic) December 1, 2022
😭😭 #CRCGER pic.twitter.com/FJYfcKb3wk
— Betclic 🔞 (@Betclic) December 1, 2022
Spain are awful to watch, they have all the ball and no chances. Boring . #JPNESP
— David Reid (@DavidReiddevils) December 1, 2022
Yes…. Culers, Thomas Muller has been kicked out of the worldcup by Gavi and Pedri… It’s time to celebrate 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/U7s6bAzLcW
— Ezenwayi Camp Nou 💙❤️ (@Jiji_Byte) December 1, 2022
— Gary Neville (@GNev2) December 1, 2022
Spain barely goes through with a shocking 4 points after a statement win against Costa Rica. Craziest World Cup I’ve witnessed
— Temur (@temur_03) December 1, 2022
So, Japan, ably assisted by Kaoru Mitoma, beat Spain and Germany 2-1 from 1-0 down, either side of losing to Costa Rica, to qualify for the last 16 as group winners.
Gloriously bonkers.#BHAFC #QatarWorldCup2022— Andy Naylor (@AndyNaylorBHAFC) December 1, 2022
I don’t mean this in a snarky way at all, but it is true: Japan *are* celebrating like they’ve won the World Cup. And why shouldn’t they? They’ve beaten Germany AND Spain and won the group!
— Jack Pitt-Brooke (@JackPittBrooke) December 1, 2022
Busquets is finished, end of story. Respect his career and achievements as one of the greatest ever in his position, but it’s time to go.
— Rafael Hernández (@RafaelH117) December 1, 2022
Spain was disappointing, I really think they are not good enough to win this World Cup
— Thandolwabo (@Ta_Fitty) December 1, 2022
Japan are through to knockout round via the hard yards, comeback wins against both Germany and Spain. Magnificent to watch tectonic plates shifting under global football. All that good karma generated by all those stadia cleaned paying off big time 🇯🇵🇯🇵🇯🇵
— Men in Blazers (@MenInBlazers) December 1, 2022
Ritsu Dōan and Ao Tanaka firing Japan into the knockouts of a World Cup – a glorious evening for Scouted Football Handbook heritage.
— Scouted Football (@scoutedftbl) December 1, 2022
Spain were awful but they need to fire those referee’s. Didn’t even need VAR to see that was off the pitch
— Jules (@JulesPueblo) December 1, 2022
the 60 seconds of this moment that we had will never be topped…🤣 pic.twitter.com/KR3baEhddN
— george (@StokeyyG2) December 1, 2022
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