Spain qualified with panic and suffering: why surprising Japan almost knocked them out of the World Cup? | CHRONICLE

The Spaniards will not forget that second half, but they will have to see it on video, because on the pitch they had no idea what happened to them. I’m sure they knew it was going to be different from the first, because Japan already showed that Biblical David complex that led them to comeback against Germany, but they weren’t prepared for that steamroller anyway.

The first half was blackboard. Only the two Spanish central defenders (Rodri 110 and Pau Torres 108) made almost twice as many passes as all of Japan (116). Those led by Luis Enrique were enthralled with the ball and took the lead after 7 minutes with a goal from Morata.

Japan looked orderly and conservative, covering the men with precision. The problem with this mark is that it works as long as there are logical movements, but it fails when the ball does something unforeseen, such as the rebound after Gavi’s center, which he recovered and touched with Nico Williams and he with Azpilicueta, who, free, sent a pass at the head of Morata who had the goal stamp printed. Japan barely had a couple of timorous attacks. Believing now that they saved energy for the second half is not a far-fetched thought.

Aware of what was coming, the DT’s moved their pieces. Luis Enrique changed Carvajal to reinforce the band (he has more brand than Azpilicueta), and Moriyasu took out Kubo and Nagatomo for Doan and Mitoma. There the Japanese revolution began. In the first, Ito collides with a cold Balde and Doan takes out Pedri and finishes off on the left-footed goal, before a trembling defense from Unai Simon.

We were barely checking the board to see how he was moving when another attack from Doan ended in a ball that seemed to have gone out of bounds but returned to Tanaka’s feet, to be thrown in. Everyone to Var, which validates the annotation. 2-1 and hit at Khalifa Stadium. The truth is, it is difficult to count the two Japanese goals. Watch them on YouTube. They were crazy.

The rest of the game was played in another stadium, at Al Bayt where Vargas’ goal gave Costa Rica partial victory. What was a painful defeat for Spain turned into a scene of terror because they were out of the World Cup. It lasted three minutes, happily for the Spaniards (Havertz equalized, Germany ended up winning 4-2 but was still out). The rest of the match was a constant loop: Spain attacking, Japan defending and giving fear in counterattacks. In the end the score did not move and the 2-1 consolidated the Japanese miracle.