Japan look to produce another massive upset but face a ruthless Spanish side in an intriguing fixture
Spain faces Japan in their last group stage match as Luis Enrique’s men look to qualify for the round of 16 with a win while Japan needs all three points if they don’t want their World Cup dream to come to an end.
Luis Enrique’s Spain had a scintillating start to their World Cup bashing Costa Rica 7-0 in their opening fixture. But La Furia Roja failed to secure themselves a knockout round ticket after conceding in the last minutes of the game against Germany.
The Spanish team would like to repeat their heroics against Costa Rica when they face Japan on Thursday. The fixture against Japan could also serve as the perfect opportunity for Luis Enrique to experiment with his bench strength and rest crucial players.
A win would mean Spain will retain the top spot in Group E, but a loss could threaten their chances of qualification if Germany beat Costa Rica by a massive margin.
But Spain has registered a win against Asian opponents in their previous 5 encounters a streak they would like to continue.
After producing one of the biggest upsets against Germany, the Japanese team was handed a shocking defeat by a more determined Costa Rica team.
And now if Hajime Moriyasu’s team wants to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the second successive time, they’ll have to conquer the Spanish challenge.
A win would see the Blue Samurais qualify sitting at the pinnacle of the group while a draw would mean they would be dependent on the results from the encounter between Germany and Costa Rica. But if Japan lose against Spain, they would be sent home from the group stage despite their tremendous start to the tournament.
Japan vs Spain confirmed line-ups
Japan XI (3-4-3): Gonda; Itakura, Yoshida, Tanigachi; Ito, Tanaka, Morita, Nagatamo; Kamada, Kubo, Maeda
Spain XI (4-3-3): Simon; Azpilicueta, P. Torres, Rodri, Balde; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; N. Williams, Morata, Olmo
Japan vs Spain LIVE updates
Japan and Spain’s next World Cup fixture
If Spain finishes at the pinnacle of the group they would be up against Croatia on the 5th of December but if they finish in second place they will be up against Morocco on the 6th of December.
If the Blue Samurais produce a shock against Spain, they would face Morocco on the 6th of December otherwise they’ll have to go home.
Japan vs Spain LIVE updates
Commentary
- end 14Match ends, Japan 2, Spain 1.
- 90’+8’end 2Second Half ends, Japan 2, Spain 1.
- 90’+6’missAttempt missed. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left. Assisted by Rodri.
- 90’attempt savedAttempt saved. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Ferran Torres.
- 89’attempt savedAttempt saved. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Rodri.
- 89’attempt blockedAttempt blocked. Jordi Alba (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
- 87’substitutionSubstitution, Japan. Wataru Endo replaces Ao Tanaka.
- 85’attempt blockedAttempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Dani Olmo.
- 83’free kick wonMarco Asensio (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 83’free kick lostFoul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
- 83’attempt savedAttempt saved. Ko Itakura (Japan) header from the centre of the box is saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by Ritsu Doan with a cross.
- 82’free kick lostFoul by Sergio Busquets (Spain).
- 82’free kick wonKaoru Mitoma (Japan) wins a free kick on the left wing.
- 80’attempt blockedAttempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Pedri.
- 74’attempt blockedAttempt blocked. Marco Asensio (Spain) left footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Jordi Alba.
- 70’missAttempt missed. Takuma Asano (Japan) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the right. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma following a fast break.
- 70’free kick lostFoul by Kaoru Mitoma (Japan).
- 70’free kick wonFerran Torres (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 69’substitutionSubstitution, Japan. Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Daichi Kamada.
- 68’substitutionSubstitution, Spain. Ansu Fati replaces Gavi.
- 68’substitutionSubstitution, Spain. Jordi Alba replaces Alejandro Balde.
- 64’free kick lostFoul by Pedri (Spain).
- 64’free kick wonMaya Yoshida (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 62’substitutionSubstitution, Japan. Takuma Asano replaces Daizen Maeda.
- 57’substitutionSubstitution, Spain. Marco Asensio replaces Álvaro Morata.
- 57’substitutionSubstitution, Spain. Ferran Torres replaces Nico Williams.
- 54’free kick lostFoul by Rodri (Spain).
- 54’free kick wonDaizen Maeda (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 52’contentious referee decisionsVAR Decision: Goal Japan 2-1 Spain (Ao Tanaka).
- 51’goalGoal! Japan 2, Spain 1. Ao Tanaka (Japan) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by Kaoru Mitoma.Goal awarded following VAR Review.
- 50’offsideOffside, Spain. Pau Torres tries a through ball, but Nico Williams is caught offside.
- 48’goalGoal! Japan 1, Spain 1. Ritsu Doan (Japan) left footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Junya Ito with a headed pass.
- 46’free kick lostFoul by Alejandro Balde (Spain).
- 46’free kick wonAo Tanaka (Japan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- startSecond Half begins Japan 0, Spain 1.
- 45’substitutionSubstitution, Spain. Daniel Carvajal replaces César Azpilicueta.
- 45’substitutionSubstitution, Japan. Kaoru Mitoma replaces Yuto Nagatomo.
- 45’substitutionSubstitution, Japan. Ritsu Doan replaces Takefusa Kubo.
- 45’+2’end 1First Half ends, Japan 0, Spain 1.
- 45’+1’cornerCorner, Spain. Conceded by Yuto Nagatomo.
- 45’yellow cardMaya Yoshida (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 45’free kick wonÁlvaro Morata (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 45’free kick lostFoul by Maya Yoshida (Japan).
- 44’yellow cardShogo Taniguchi (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 44’free kick wonGavi (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 44’free kick lostFoul by Shogo Taniguchi (Japan).
- 42’attempt blockedAttempt blocked. Dani Olmo (Spain) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Sergio Busquets.
- 39’yellow cardKo Itakura (Japan) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
- 39’free kick wonPedri (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 39’free kick lostFoul by Ko Itakura (Japan).
- 36’attempt blockedAttempt blocked. Daichi Kamada (Japan) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Junya Ito.
- 35’offsideOffside, Japan. Yuto Nagatomo tries a through ball, but Daichi Kamada is caught offside.
- 33’free kick wonGavi (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 33’free kick lostFoul by Shogo Taniguchi (Japan).
- 32’free kick wonSergio Busquets (Spain) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 32’free kick lostFoul by Daizen Maeda (Japan).
- 28’free kick wonSergio Busquets (Spain) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
- 28’free kick lostFoul by Hidemasa Morita (Japan).
- 25’offsideOffside, Japan. Yuto Nagatomo tries a through ball, but Daichi Kamada is caught offside.
- 24’offsideOffside, Spain. César Azpilicueta tries a through ball, but Álvaro Morata is caught offside.
- 23’attempt savedAttempt saved. Álvaro Morata (Spain) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the bottom right corner.
- 20’free kick wonGavi (Spain) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 20’free kick lostFoul by Shogo Taniguchi (Japan).
- 18’free kick lostFoul by Alejandro Balde (Spain).
- 18’free kick wonTakefusa Kubo (Japan) wins a free kick on the right wing.
- 11’goalGoal! Japan 0, Spain 1. Álvaro Morata (Spain) header from very close range to the centre of the goal. Assisted by César Azpilicueta with a cross.
- 9’attempt savedAttempt saved. Álvaro Morata (Spain) header from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dani Olmo with a cross.
- 9’cornerCorner, Spain. Conceded by Takefusa Kubo.
- 8’missAttempt missed. Junya Ito (Japan) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Ao Tanaka.
- 7’free kick lostFoul by Pau Torres (Spain).
- 7’free kick wonDaizen Maeda (Japan) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
- 7’missAttempt missed. Sergio Busquets (Spain) left footed shot from outside the box is too high.
- startFirst Half begins.
- lineupLineups are announced and players are warming up.
Japan and Spain’s next World Cup fixture
If Spain finishes at the pinnacle of the group they would be up against Croatia on the 5th of December but if they finish in second place they will be up against Morocco on the 6th of December.
If the Blue Samurais produce a shock against Spain, they would face Morocco on the 6th of December otherwise they’ll have to go home.