JAPAN 2-1 SPAIN
The madness of Spain: Unexpected defeat against Japan and go 'in extremis' to eighth
Practically a miracle has qualified Spain to the round of 16, as second in their group. After a 'bath' to Japan in the first part, 'La Roja' disconnected and was the victim of a great controversy from the VAR
'In extremis' suffering and with luck: Spain is in the eighth of final of the Glass of the World almost by miracle, in a night in which, further of the football, the madness was the big protagonist in the Khalifa International Stadium. The group And finish being one 'boiler' and Spain finish putting in the following phase by a 'favour' of Germany against Costa Rica.
In a party in which they signed several different histories, Luis Enrique bet by the surprises in his alignment for rotar and try something new, with the main novelties in the sides (Azpilicueta by Carvajal, although it went out in the second half, whereas Balde split by the left) and in the forward, with Nico Williams and Dani Elm in the extremes to back to Álvaro Morata.
Although with a tie to at all him 'sufficed' to the Spaniards, did not want to trust knowingly that to Japan likes him surprise. 'The Red' pushed from the beginning of the party and did with the possession of the spherical from the minute one, by what the goal that opened the marker did not take a lot in arriving: In the 11', César Azpilicueta centred from the right for the finish 'easy' of Morata from the centre of the area, hammered down, impossible to detain for the guardameta.
Spain devoted to protect the balloon and merodeó the area of Japan, with both extremes playing very open and trying 'involve' to Morata, but without success any in the last metres. In the meantime, the Asians were trying to approach to Unai Simón that it was not fine with the game of feet and that exposed more than the account... And in the second time happened bill.
And it is that, although in the first part was an authentic party of Spain, in the second half was another history and suffered more than the account, but also of unnecessary way. 'The Red' left the feeling that it was his only enemy, with unforgivable defensive errors: First an error between Unai Simón and Alejandor Balde, that lost the balloon that sent the guardameta for the arrival of a Doan that soltó a zapatazo from the frontal that could not clear the put Spanish.
A madness in the second half
The history did not finish there and a questionable decision of the VAR left to Spain against the ropes. A centre to the second stick -that gave the feeling that it left was- was saved by the Spanish saga, but Tanaka finished to the deepest of the network. The goal was cancelled in first instance, but after a review of the technology gave the target by valid.
The decision of the VAR, the moment anímico and the absolute pressure (by what happened in the another duel between Costa Rica and Germany), Spain left the feeling of desconectarse of the party: there was not who connected passes, generated the feeling of danger or went able to understand what posed a Japan that, motivated like anybody, did not leave of presionar neither force the error of the Spaniards.
With the marker against and after several changes in the XI, Spain left the feeling that had more control of the party, but could not find a gap to the area neither had idea of how resolve a party that played there and in the stadium To the Bayt. Finally, by more luck that talent and game, Spain avoided that the history was worse... Thanks to Germany, that won against Costa Rica 2-3 and avoided that the centroamericanos stole him the place to 'The Red'.
