Japan as the rising sun advances to the Eighth

In Doha, the Japanese National Team honors the emblem of its flag, the Rising Sun. The country with the fewest years of football development defeated the greats of its group: Germany in the first game, and Spain in the third. He was the executioner in the so-called “group of death (E)”. With two games won and one lost, the Japanese team was the leader (with 6 points), while Spain and Germany finished with four points each, but La Roja advanced on goal difference in second place.

Álvaro Morata put Spain ahead early on with a towering header, but Japan hit back dramatically early in the second half. Goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka saw them mount a sensational comeback, just as they did against Germany. Tanaka’s goal was highly controversial after the referees relied on VAR to decide that Kaoru Mitoma had kept the ball in play.

Spain struggled to create chances against a staunch Japanese defense in the closing stages, with the Asian team aware that conceding another goal would see them eliminated.

“It is not that we have rewritten history, but we have overcome a great wall. I think it’s the result of fighting as a team,” said Doan, who scored against Spain and Germany.

Both teams made five changes, with Luis Enrique bringing in Alvaro Morata to lead the line, and providing full debuts for Alejandro Balde and Nico Williams. Japan started five behind, hoping to keep Spain at bay, but pressed high in attack to try to capitalize on any mistakes.

Spain lost against an Asian team for the first time in its history. They had 13 wins and 2 draws (against South Korea in 1994 and in 2002) to date. Coach Luis Enrique’s team will now meet Morocco in the round of 16, and Japan will face Croatia.