"Qatar 2022: Japan stun Spain to top Group E; Germany crash out despite victory over Costa Rica"

" Qatar 2022: Japan stun Spain to top Group E; Germany crash out despite victory over Costa Rica \r\n\r\nJapan staged their second stunning turnaround of the World Cup to beat 2010 champions Spain 2-1 on Thursday with two quick-fire goals and advance to the last 16 along with their beaten opponents, dumping Germany out in the process.\r\n\r\nThe prospect of an early World Cup exit for Japan was transformed into one of the greatest nights for the Samurai Blue after coach Hajime Moriyasu revamped his side at halftime.\r\n\r\nRitsu Doan, one of the substitutes, hammered in a shot from the edge of the box in the 48th minute which Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon - whose poor clearance had created the danger - could not keep out.\r\n\r\nThree minutes later, Ao Tanaka scored from point-blank range after the other halftime sub Kaoru Mitoma cut the ball back from the byline.\r\n\r\nThe VAR system took several minutes to confirm the ball had not gone out before Mitoma's touch, sparking wild celebrations by the Japan players and their fans similar to the scenes that followed their 2-1 comeback win over Germany last week.\r\n\r\nJapan, who have never progressed beyond the first knockout round, will face Croatia in the last 16 and Spain will meet Morocco.\r\n\r\nSpain had looked in total control in the first half but were suddenly clinging to their chance of staying in the World Cup as Costa Rica and Germany battled out their own drama in the other Group E match which ended in a 4-2 win for Germany, not enough to keep them in the tournament.\r\n\r\nAlvaro Morata had put the Spaniards ahead when he scored his third goal in three games in Qatar, rising high above Japan's defence to power a header past goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda in the 11th minute after a cross by Cesar Azpilicueta.\r\n\r\nThe breathtaking 2-1 win for Japan - who also beat Germany 2-1 after going behind in their opening match of the tournament - meant they topped Group E, followed by Spain in second who finished ahead of third-placed Germany only on goal difference.\r\n\r\nOn a night of unrelenting drama in the desert near Doha, the Germans struck first with Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute but saw the Central Americans score twice with Yeltsin Tejeda and a Manuel Neuer own goal before a Kai Havertz brace put them back in front.\r\n\r\nFellow substitute Niclas Fuellkrug added a fourth in stoppage time but it could do nothing to prevent their elimination as Spain advanced with a superior goal difference.\r\n\r\nIt was the first time in their illustrious World Cup history that Germany had failed to win any of their first two group matches and despite bagging a win on their last attempt, they will be departing Qatar with dropped heads.\r\n\r\nTheir hopes of qualification was hanging by a thread going into the game after losing their opening group match to Japan and then snatching a 1-1 draw against Spain.\r\n\r\nNeeding only victory to avoid a repeat of their shock 2018 World Cup first round exit, Germany, with seven Bayern Munich players in their line-up, charged forward from the start in search of an early goal to settle their nerves.\r\n\r\nJamal Musiala cut from left into the box and tested keeper Keylor Navas with a low drive in the second minute.\r\n\r\nIt was one-way traffic initially and unmarked Thomas Mueller should have done much better when he was picked out by Joshua Kimmich but could not keep his header on target.\r\n\r\nGnabry, however, scored with his glancing header in the 10th minute to put the four-time champions in front.\r\n\r\nCosta Rica, who required at least a point to have a chance to progress, rarely crossed into the German half, with only about 25% possession in the first 45 minutes.\r\n\r\nGermany were eager to make amends for their bad tournament start with teenager Musiala repeatedly taking on the entire Costa Rican defence.\r\n\r\nThe chances kept coming but the Germans, as in the game against Japan, struggled to convert them.\r\n\r\nThey were almost punished when Keysher Fuller benefitted from a double defensive blunder but his shot was tipped over the bar by Neuer, whose 19th appearance at the tournament was a World Cup record for goalkeepers.\r\n\r\nWith the group standings flashing up on the big screen of the Al Bayt stadium, Germany grew nervous with Musiala twice hitting the post early in the second half.\r\n\r\nNeuer, however, could do nothing 13 minutes after the restart when Tejeda thundered the ball past him on the rebound after he had first saved a Kendall Waston header.\r\n\r\nJuan Pablo Vargas then appeared to have bundled the ball over the line in the 70th minute to put Costa Rica in front but the effort was later credited as a Neuer own goal.\r\n\r\nSubstitute Havertz scored twice in 12 minutes and Fuellkrug added another in stoppage time but ultimately it was too little too late with Spain advancing with a superior goal difference."

"Qatar 2022: Japan stun Spain to top Group E; Germany crash out despite victory over Costa Rica"

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