Spain is released with a shock after a crazy evening in group E, Japan is crowned group winner | 2022 Football World Cup

Japan-Spain was already approaching its end, when national coach Luis Enrique of the Spaniards once again shouted his throat hoarsely along the line. Prior to the game, the fine-tuned midfielder of yesteryear had proclaimed that he believes football should be a show, that the audience should be entertained at all times. It was as if his words immediately echoed again, shortly before the final whistle at the Khalifa International Stadium, the setting of a bizarre football night.

Because it was a show. Not necessarily the football technical aspect. The entertainment was mainly in the tension, in the unexpected plot twists that the match brought. Partly thanks to the developments in that other match in the group, Costa Rica-Germany, where emotions were already flowing up and down. And exactly that surprise seemed to have taken hold of Enrique, shortly before the referee blew off. Conclusion: Japan ends as group winner, Spain as number two. And Germany, which seemed to grow slowly in the tournament, has to go home.

Most curious moment in the Khalifa: Junya Tanaka’s goal, 142 seconds after Ritsu Doan had already helped Japan to a surprise equalizer against Spain, who had taken the lead in the first half through Alvaro Morata, who scored his third World Cup goal in row made. Big question: had the ball not crossed the line prior to Tanaka’s 2-1? It looked like it. In fact, the arbitration was initially of the same opinion. However, technology determined that the ball had not completely crossed the line.

It turned out to be the start of a blistering denouement in group E, all the more so because Costa Rica had taken a 2-1 lead in the other match. At that score, both Germany – which later took the lead again – and Spain would be out. The tension could be seen in Enrique, while the clock ticked further and further and Japan simply ruled the sheets against his badly overturned team after the break. Fortunately for him, the damage was limited, despite the eventual 2-1 defeat.

Japan may be surprisingly group winners after an evening that was as beautiful as it was crazy; for Spain, winning the World Cup title remains an achievable mission.

Check out everything about the World Cup in Qatar herewith the latest news and the game schedule of Orange, the game schedule, the premium stories, columns, videos and podcasts.