The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group E Japan v Spain clash that should see Spain move into the knockout stages as winner of the group and could see Japan knocked out, which will hopefully not affect garbage control too much in Qatar.
With so many games and so little time, our Group E Japan v Spain Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group E Japan v Spain Match Centre.
KICKOFF THURSDAY DEC 1ST – 22:00 (QATAR) 19:00 (UK) 06:00 (AEDT)
Group E Japan v Spain Match Review
Japan have come from behind with two goals in quick succession to stun Spain and the rest of Group E on a sensation final day of Group E. Spain held onto second place, but at one stage were also eliminated when Costa Rica briefly took the lead against Germany.
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
5’ Min After Spain passed the ball around as per the brochure, Japan went on their first attack of the game and it caused mild panic for the Spaniards too, but eventually cleared out with no problem. But perhaps the good Japan were playing in the game that beat Germany in the first game. Germany would certainly love it as Group E battles it out for the knockout stage places.
7’ Min Sergio Busquets show why Spain are better off passing the ball and tapping in goals with a long range shot that missed by a long range.
8’ Min Japan goes close again. Busquets gives away the ball in the penalty box, and Japan eventually get the ball to Junya Ito who has a crack but pushes it just wide of the near post. Good stuff though, and Spain may not get this all their own way.
9’ Min End to end stuff at the moment with Spain having a few shots at goal down the other end of the field. This could be a real neck breaker like a Wimbledon outside court special.
11’ Min GOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR SPAIN
Alvaro Morata celebrates his first start of the 2022 World Cup with a nice headed goal. After a couple of false starts César Azpilicueta provides the perfect cross from out wide on the right and Morata seals the deal with the perfect header. The goal puts Spain in the driving seat for knockout qualification.
JAPAN 0 SPAIN 1
25’ Min Both sides are giving this game a real go, Spain not settling for just 1-0 and Japan not giving up on another upset. Spain go closest to being the next scorer with a few good chances ruled out for offside or the final touch going missing. Alvaro Morata looks sharp though for the record. Talking of sharp and missing, Germany have scored against Costa Rica, so are on track not to miss the knockout stage after all.
33’ Min Something we’ve highlighted almost came true as Spanish keeper Simon stuffed around with the ball at the back and was nearly caught out by a lurking Japanese player. We reckon he’s still got a stuff up in him. He’ll want to be careful though, because with Germany leading, if Japan can do to them what they did to Germany, Spain would be exiting the competition. Japan look good for a goal, but probably not two. And Spain look good for more.
45’ Min Klinsmann Trophy nomination for Alvaro Morata for his performance in apparently being clipped by Japanese defender Yoshida. It wouldn’t have been enough to move a feather, but still Morata gives it the full oscar performance. Love football, hate football sooks.
HALF TIME – JAPAN 0 SPAIN 1
48’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL FOR JAPAN
And here comes the Japanese upset? Spain are too clever for their own good at the back with getting rid of the ball, Japan winning the ball back just outside the Spanish penalty area and the ball ending up with Doan who nails a curving left footed shot that keeper Simon can only parry into his own net.
JAPAN 1 SPAIN 1
50’ Min GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL FOR JAPAN
Can you believe it!!!!!!!! Japan have scored two in two minutes. The ball goes across the face of the Spanish goal but Japan’s Kaoru Mitoma chases hard and drags the ball back from the line and Ao Tanaka is waiting to tap the ball in. There’s a lengthy and dramatic wait for VAR to check if the ball went over the line before the goal, If we’re honest it looked out. But surely something as simple as a ball crossing the line can’t be stuffed up by VAR. Surely. Hang on, it is given!!!!!! Spain are behind. Unbelievable.
JAPAN 2 SPAIN 1
So the context for this is that Japan climb to six points and the Group E lead. Spain drops to four points with Germany, but due to Spain’s 7-0 win over Costa Rica, Germany now have to better that in their current game. What a morning of sudden death football. And more drama elsewhere as Costa Rica draw level with Germany!
67’ Min Double substitution for Spain as they search for an answer to Japan’s ambush.
70’ Min Japan are not done with giving Spain the irits here. A misplaced pass from Spain turns into a counter attack and nearly a goal, but the final shot is a little weak and drifts well wide of the posts.
Sensation again!!!!! Costa Rica have taken the lead against Germany which now knocks out Spain as well. Can you believe it!!!!! As is stands Japan and Costa Rica are going through. Surely there’s more to come, but just wow.
But then Germany do Spain a favour and equalise which moves Spain back into second without scoring a goal themselves.
78’ Min Spain keep pressing Japan without success. They probably feel they need to score, and they should, because another rogue goal from Costa Rica and they’re done. Heroic defending from Japan by the way.
82’ Min Things are going Japan’s way now. They actually win a free kick close to the penalty area of Spain. The cross is perfect but the header a little weak and easy for Simon to gather.
Relief for Spain as Germany take the lead 3-2 which just about makes Spain safe. So now it is a matter of whether they want to beat Japan and ruin their party or not.
89’ Min Big chance for Spain as Dani Olmo is heading for goal but his shot goes straight at the Japanese keeper. Japan had also previously made a crucial save-clearance double too.
90’ Min Seven minutes of added time. The equation is if Japan hold on they are first in group E and Spain will be second. If Spain equalise then Spain will top the group and Germany not Japan will go through. Woof.
90’ +4 Min Japan are holding out well. Clearing the ball as far as it will go. Waiting for the inevitable attack of Spanish passes and crosses.
90’ +6 Min A long range shot from Dani Olmo shows that Spain may have given up on trying to win with at least second place confirmed. Japanese fans descend into pure joy in the grandstands. But there’s still a few minutes to go.
Whistle blows and Japan have beaten Spain (along with Germany in their first game) to top the Group. Unbelievable.
Final Score
JAPAN 2
Ritsu Doan 48′ Ao Tanaka 50′
SPAIN 1
Alvaro Morata 11′
HT Spain 1-0
Players of the Match
Japan
Points of Interest
- Gianni Infantino is seen at his third game of the day. Must be using teleportal or a helicopter to get around. So he’s either hiding teleportal technology, that wouldn’t surprise, or he’s getting a lift everywhere and so what about his carbon footprint. What a jerk.
Group E Japan v Spain Match Stats
Group E Japan v Spain Starting Teams
TEAM (3-4-3)
12 Gonda
4 Itakura
22 Yoshida
3 Taniguchi
14 Ito
17 Tanaka
13 Morita
5 Nagatomo
11 Kubo
25 Maeda
15 Kamada
SPAIN (4-3-3)
23 Simón
2 Azpilicueta
16 Rodri
4 P Torres
14 Balde
9 Gavi
5 Busquets
26 Pedri
12 Nico Williams
7 Morata
21 Olmo
Group E Japan v Spain Match Preview
Why should you care?
Because Japan knocked off Germany in their first game, and what’s stopping them from doing that again.
Well, a lot of things. First of all Spain probably won’t let Japan have the ball very much, which is their style. Then Spain have proven they have plenty of goals in them this World Cup, something Japan fell well short of v Costa Rica last start.
Hard to think after Spain won 7-0 in their first game of the World Cup that Spain haven’t qualified officially for the knockout stage just yet, but they should get past Japan and into the dark, depths of the World Cup finals stages.
Who should you care about?
Instead of going for the attackers for good reasons, we are going down the other end of the field for another reason. Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón cut a number of passes and clearance quite fine v Germany, and we reckon he has a real clanger in him before this World Cup is out. Better off now than a knockout game with your World Cup on the line.
But there’s still a few good attacking players to talk about, most of all for us this World Cup for Spain has been Dani Olmo. Whilst he didn’t get the stats of the first game, Olmo was involved in a lot of good things for Spain.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
Spain are undefeated in their six World Cup game against Asian nations (W4 D2). And they have a current winning run of three games.
Japan are W1 L3 v South American nations at the World Cup.
Who will win?
Spain 3 Japan 0
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
What does the table look like?
Team / Played / Points / Goals Scored / Goals Conceded / Goal Difference
| Spain | 2 | 4 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| Japan | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Costa Rica | 2 | 3 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
| Germany | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | -1 |
