FIFA World Cup 2022: Ritsu Doan, Ao Tanaka star in Japan win over Spain, BOTH groups advance, WATCH | Soccer Information
Similar stadium. Similar end result. Comparable surprising victory for Japan on the World Cup. After beating Germany within the staff’s opener, Japan labored their manner into the spherical of 16 of the FIFA World Cup 2022 on Thursday (December 1) by defeating Spain 2-1 — the identical rating as final week. Spain additionally superior regardless of the loss, knocking Germany out of the event.
Japan scored twice early within the second half to return from behind and defeat one other European powerhouse and make it to the knockout stage for the second straight World Cup. It’s the primary time Japan has superior previous the group stage in back-to-back tournaments.
“For Asia and for Japan, our victories over Spain and Germany, two of the highest groups on the planet, is one thing that give us nice confidence and we’re very happy,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu stated. “After all, there are numerous issues we nonetheless must be taught, however Asia can win on the planet stage, Japan can win on the planet stage.”
Ao Tanaka scored the profitable purpose from shut vary early within the second half. It took about two minutes for video evaluate officers to substantiate the ball hadn’t gone out of bounds earlier than the purpose at Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, the place Japan had shocked Germany in its opener. Gamers from each groups appeared stunned when it was introduced that the purpose counted, and the Japanese began operating towards their bench once more to have a good time with their teammates.
“From my angle I believe the ball was clearly half out, however greater than that I couldn’t see due to the pace,” Tanaka stated. “I used to be concentrating in scoring. There was all the time a risk that it was out … However ultimately it was a purpose, in order that was nice.”
Japan completed on the prime of Group E and can subsequent face Croatia. Spain will tackle Group F winner Morocco. Spain and Germany — which beat Costa Rica 4-2 in a simultaneous match — each had 4 factors within the group. However Spain had a superior purpose distinction.
Watch Japan beat Spain in a FIFA World Cup 2022 match right here…
Rit-Suuuiii Supermacy _@jfa_en‘s Ritsu Doan got here off the bench & delivered but once more _
Relive his superb outing in #JPNESP & observe #Japan‘s #FIFAWorldCup journey, LIVE on #JioCinema & #Sports18 __#Qatar2022 #FIFAWConJioCinema #FIFAWConSports18 pic.twitter.com/ohpGIOGSr1
— JioCinema (@JioCinema) December 2, 2022
The group standings bounced forwards and backwards throughout each matches. Costa Rica was beating Germany at one level. If that end result had stood, Costa Rica would have eradicated Spain. Spain coach Luis Enrique stated he didn’t know that at one level Costa Rica was profitable.
“If I had identified about it, I might have had a coronary heart assault,” he stated.
Álvaro Morata scored for Spain within the eleventh minute and the 2010 champions have been in management till Japan rallied after halftime. Ritsu Doan equalized within the forty eighth with a left-footed shot from exterior the field and Tanaka added the second three minutes later. Luis Enrique stated Spain “acquired into collapse mode.”
“We completely misplaced management throughout these 5 minutes. We panicked,” Luis Enrique stated. “In the event that they needed to rating extra targets, they might have been in a position to do it. They acquired previous us like an airplane.”
Morata turned the primary Spain participant to attain within the staff’s first three matches on the World Cup since Telmo Zarra in 1950. Spain had opened with a 7-0 rout of Costa Rica earlier than conceding late in a 1-1 draw towards Germany.
Japan, which misplaced to Costa Rica in its second match, was eradicated by Belgium within the final 16 4 years in the past in Russia. The Japanese have by no means gotten previous the spherical of 16 on the World Cup. By ending second within the group, Spain might keep away from dealing with Brazil within the quarterfinals and Argentina within the semifinals.
“There’s nothing to have a good time,” Luis Enrique stated. “I am not completely happy. We needed to complete in first place with a victory.”
The coach stated he was stunned that the second purpose by Japan was confirmed by VAR. He stated he was proven a photograph of the ball out of bounds. “That photograph they confirmed me will need to have been altered,” Luis Enrique stated. “That is the one clarification.”
(With PTI inputs)
