Japan’s smart changes pay off – with Var help

A cigarette paper, at best. That was all that stood between success and failure for Japan, although they would be the first to argue that they earned their luck, and it would be hard to disagree with that unless you are of a German persuasion.

In which case, you may well be lobbying Fifa to ask how, without the assistance of technology, Var could determine from the naked eye and a bunch of inconclusive aerial shots that the ball had not gone out before Japan were swept on their way to another extraordinary second-half comeback against illustrious European opposition.

Eight days after coming from a goal behind to beat Germany 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium, Japan repeated the trick in breathless fashion against Spain as Hajime Moriyasu again used his substitutes to excellent effect to secure their passage to the round of 16 as Group E winners.

Croatia now lie in wait for Japan while Spain will face Morocco. The legitimacy of the win may end up being debated long and hard, particularly in Germany, who would have progressed on goal difference at Japan’s expense had Ao Tanaka’s contentious 51st-minute winner been ruled out as pretty much everyone in the stadium – and doubtless the millions watching on television – expected it would be.

But it would be unfair to detract too much from what was a gargantuan effort from the Japanese after the interval and one of the greatest nights in their history, a performance full of courage and composure that stunned Spain, who for a brief spell were tumbling out of the World Cup along with Germany.

Had Costa Rica managed to hold on to their own 2-1 lead and beat Germany, the recriminations over the biggest Var call of this World Cup would doubtless have been felt in Iberia as well as Bavaria. The flashpoint arrived three minutes after substitute Ritsu Doan had fired Japan level at the start of the second half. Junya Ito cut inside from the right and fed Doan, who managed to squeeze a low cross to the far side. It looked as though the ball had run out of play before another substitute, Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma, turned it back towards goal for Tanaka to stab home. Even the aerial shots which provided the best angle seemed inconclusive at best.

Tanaka, himself, admitted afterwards that he thought the ball was probably out and was expecting the Var to confirm as much. But after a long review by the Var Fernando Guerrero and his assistants, the goal was given, to widespread shock in the stadium and on the Spanish bench.

When word filtered through to the Spain bench 20 minutes later that Costa Rica were leading Germany and, at that point, they were heading out, Enrique’s dismay at Japan’s second goal may only have hardened. But Germany were soon level again and, by the end, the Spain coach seemed more concerned by his side’s second=half capitulation. “We went into collapse mode,” he said.

He may come to reason that the defeat was not as much of a blow as it will initially have felt. By finishing second in the group, Spain have inadvertently avoided potential meetings with Argentina and Brazil en route to a possible final. But they will have to play a lot better than this if they are to get past Morocco.

In front after 10 minutes when Alvaro Morata headed home Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross from the right for his third goal of the tournament, Spain were happy to sit on their lead and play keep ball. There were one or two slack moments, but nothing to worry about. And then the ceiling fell in as Japan, given a new lease of life by the half-time introductions of Mitoma and Doan, pretty much did to Spain what they had done to Germany.

The equaliser owed as much to Spanish sloppiness and some deeply unconvincing goalkeeping from Unai Simon as Japan’s determined, aggressive pressing. Rodri, near his own byline, played the ball across to Simon on his left as blue shirts gave chase. Simon’s pass out wide was a hospital ball, although Alejandro Balde should have shielded it far better, the Barcelona left-back dispossessed much too easily by Ito. The ball was poked to Doan and he lashed it goalwards. There was plenty of power on the shot but Simon, despite getting two hands to the ball, pushed it into his net rather than away. Japan (5-4-1) Gonda; Ito, Itakura, Yoshida, Taniguchi, Nagatomo (Mitoma h-t); Kubo (Doan h-t), Tanaka (Endo 87), Morita, Kamada (Tomiyasu 69); Maeda (Asano 62). Booked Itakura, Taniguchi, Yoshida.

Spain (4-3-3) Simon; Azpilicueta (Carvajal h-t), Rodri, Torres, Balde (Alba 68); Gavi (Fati 68), Busquets, Pedri; Williams (Torres 57), Morata (Asensio 57), Olmo. Referee Victor Gomes (South Africa). Att 44,851.