Japan, with the controversies of the World Cup, gave the blow to win their group and fill Spain with doubts, which painted a candidate

The fury, this time, was blue. A Spain was carried away by a tsunami in the Khalifa stadium: in five minutes, the amazing Japanwho had already beaten the Germans on his debut, turned the tables (with a great controversy included in the second goal) and filled La Roja with doubtswho had started the World Cup with a pure victory and obtaining a candidate plate, even if he ended up qualifying for the round of 16 thanks to the result of the other match in Group E, in which Germany defeated 4-2 Costa Ricaand goal difference.

As if Godzilla himself had suddenly awakened, Japan came out in full force after the break and with two bursts finished off Luis Enrique’s men, who were left without any response. It is the fourth time that the Asians have managed to get through the stage in their seven World Cups. And it seems that they should measure themselves against the Europeans: they have lost only two of their last nine games against teams from the Old Continent in the group stage.

Therefore, Japan were in first place and will now face Croatia on Monday. For their part, Spain, in second place, will play Morocco, the revelation of Qatar 2022, on Tuesday.

The evening had begun with the green light for Spain. because the header of Alvaro Morata After a cross that was more like an aerial pass from César Azpilicueta that went into the Japanese goal after 11 minutes of play, he simply pulverized all possible previous speculation about what the European team would do: go out and look for the game or wait? keep up with what is happening in Germany and Costa Rica?

Spain left no doubts and came out determined. He got the quick goal and managed the timing of a game that didn’t seem to bring him major complications. For Morata it was special because he equaled Zarra in scoring in the first three games of a World Cup.

Japan, meanwhile, was not misaligned despite the defeat. He kept his 5-4-1 tight and that made things easier for the Spaniard.

Eastern order and tactical discipline left no room for surprise. Everything has been announced, everything has been outlined in the Japanese team. The few insinuations in the first set are due more to errors pronounced in Spain’s start, such as a wrong decision by Busquets or some doubts by the goalkeeper.

But Japan has changed. your technician Hajime Moriyasu decided to change at halftime. He sent Ritsu Doan and Kaoru Mitoma onto the field, two players who injected the necessary disorder to break the mold and lose their rival.

And in five minutes the whole match and the group turned around. Doan equalized early in the second half. And he participated in the play of the second, a handful of minutes later by sending the cross from right to left which Mitoma put in so much that Ao Tanaka pushed him almost in front of goal.

Here’s the big controversy: Was all the ball gone? The South African referee, Victor Gomes, overruled it at the behest of the assistant. But the VAR automatically intervened. It took almost three minutes to check the game. The first repetition seemed to verify that the ball had crossed the entire goal line, but after receiving the indication through the headset, it validated the Japanese goal.

Luis Enrique’s face said it all. Disappointment and, of course, anger. To make matters worse, the night got a lot darker as Costa Rica had reversed it to Germany and thus Spain were left without their ticket to the next stage.

Luis Enrique sent all of his forwards onto the field: Ansu fati, Ferrán Torres, Marco Asensio. But Japan rearmed again into a practically impenetrable shell. Those in red failed to find spaces. And the nerves played more as the minutes went by.

Until the shouts from the stands brought relief. Germany’s goals in the 4-2 final against Costa Rica were celebrated with clenched fists as a victory of their own.

It’s not for less. Thanks to that foreign result, Spain are still alive in the World Cup. She went on full of worries. Japan, on the other hand, has confirmed all its certainties.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.