Japan and Spain take the tickets into the round of 16 in Group E following a dramatic night in the final group games, which saw a lot of twists and turns but in the end, Germany and Costa Rica have to make way.
Spain, despite their 2-1 loss to Japan on the night qualified as runner up to Hajime Moriyasu side.
Japan 2-1 Spain
Spain took an early lead in the twelfth minute through Atletico Madrid striker, Alvaro Morata, who scored in a third consecutive game in the ongoing FIFA World Cup, becoming the second player to do so after Cody Gakpo.
After Japan struggled to clear their lines, the ball was eventually worked to Cesar Azpilicueta, whose cross into the heart of the box was met by the head of the striker for the opener.
Spain continued their dominance but were unable to add to their lead while Japan continued to look dangerous on the break once they get rare possession of the ball.
Hajime Moriyasu made two alteration at the break, with Koaru Mitoma and Ritsu Doan coming on for Yugo Nagatomo and Takefusa Kubo respectively. Three minutes after the restart, substitute, Ritsu Doan scores a belter for his second goal of the tournament to restore parity at 1-1, assisted by Junya Ito.
Three minutes later, Ao Tanaka scores and Japan lead for the first time on the night. Substitute, Kaoru Mitoma just managed to keep the ball in play and set up the midfielder, who bundled the ball over the line.
Doan again was at the heart of things in the build up to that second goal and the manager must be happy with his decision makings, which was also the key in their win over Germany in their first game.
Costa Rica 2-4 Germany
Germany take an early lead as Serge Gnabry heads home a David Raum’s cross from the left with just ten minutes on the clock and many thought Hansi Flick’s men mean business as they needed to score at least seven if things goes wrong with Spain against Japan, which in the end is the case.
However, they could not add to that one goal lead and just two minutes before the hour mark, Costa Rica had a rare chance to attack and Kendall Watson heads straight at Manuel Neuer, who spilled the ball, allowing Yeltsin Tejeda fire the rebound into the net to level matters.
20 minutes from time, Costa Rica took a shocking lead as Juan Pablo Vargas bundled home after Joel Campbell’s free-kick was flicked on by a couple of Costa Rica players before it fell to the defender, who beat the German players to it as he put his nation 2-1 up.
At that time in both game, Japan and Costa Rica were going through because both were on six points each. However, that soon changed after the German substitutes started to take matters into their own hands.
Kai Havertz scored a brace after coming on as a substitute to restore Germany’s one goal lead. First was assisted by fellow substitute, Niclas Fullkrug and the second by Serge Gnabry.
One minute into added time, Niclas Fullkrug gets his name on the score sheet in consecutive games to extend Germany’s lead, assisted by Leroy Sané. It ended 4-2 in favour of the German on the night but they would have preferred a bigger margin win.
Japan and Germany win on the night as Japan qualify as Group winner while Germany’s 4-2 was not enough as Spain’s superior goal difference means a consecutive group elimination for the 2014 Champions, after previously suffering group elimination in Russia over four years ago.
Spain reached the next round as runner up and will be very disappointed of their performance. They will have Germany to thank for this ticket while Costa Rica, despite their 7-0 loss in their first game came very close but not enough as they join Germany on way home.
Spain faces Morocco in the round of 16 while Group winner, Japan faces Croatia.
Author: Kehinde Hassan Afolabi
