World Cup: Eee, it’s Japan and Spain who stay in World Cup contention

I WOULD not have been surprised on waking this morning to find that the sun had risen in the west rather than the east.

After all, anyone watching the Group E and F games last night could be forgiven for believing that the natural order of things had been reversed.

Germany and Belgium booted out before the knockout stage?

Japan topping a group after beating both Spain and Germany – coming back in both from 1-0 down to triumph 2-1? And that after earlier losing to Costa Rica!

And Morocco finishing first in a group that included Croatia and Belgium?!

Bottom line: Japan and Spain join Morocco and Croatia in the Round of 16.

Our very own Victor Gomes was the man in the middle for the Spain/Japan game and, as usual, was calm under the intense pressure.

The start to both Group E games was uncannily similar.

Spain went ahead through Alvaro Morata’s head getting on the end of a Cesar Azpilicuetaer cross on the 10-minute mark, roughly the same time as Germany scored when Serge Gnabry also headed home.

Spain would dominate a first half that was watchable but hardly breathtaking and it’s best we move on to the second half, which was anything but lacklustre.

They were hardly out the shed when Japan equalised, as much due to poor goalkeeping as to attacking football.

Unai Simon surely could have done better to stop the shot from sub Ritsu Doan, but he didn’t (1-1).

Japan scored again soon after, a goal that not only consigned Germany to a Friday Lufthansa flight home but will be hotly debated and disputed around the globe.

The ball appeared to have gone beyond the byline as Yuto Nagatomo hooked it back into play and a prowling Ao Tanaka headed it into the net.

One of the VAR images clearly showed the whole ball over the whole line – goal kick! – but it was never shown again and the goal was allowed.

2-1 it would stay despite Spain creating a busload of chances.

This as news had filtered through that Costa Rica were leading Germany 2-1, which would knock Spain out on goal difference.

However, when Germany equalised then went 4-2 ahead (they would need about 8 goals to end second), Spain went through the motions until the final whistle.

Spain and (especially) Japan celebrate staying in the competition.