Aidan Marsan (12) | STAFF REPORTER
Going into the final match day of Group E, everyone in the group could’ve advanced to the knockout rounds. But Japan was given the toughest draw, or so we thought, against former World Cup champions Spain.
The Japanese spirits were high and mighty going into the match after already taking down former champions Germany on the first match day by a score of 2-1. They thought if they did it once they can surely do it again.
The game starts and Spain struck first with an 11th-minute goal by striker Alvaro Morata the momentum was in Spain’s favour controlling 83% of the possession giving very little breathing room for the Japanese to operate. But the tides were changing when in the 48th minute the Japanese tied the game with a goal from winger Ritsu Doan the hero from the German game.
And to put the game away the Japanese team scored a 51st-minute goal by Ao Tanaka. 3 shots on goal were all the Japanese needed to secure themselves a place in the knockout round and put them atop of Group E.
The Japanese showed that they were a team not to be messed with and that they can play with the best of them. And even though they lost in the Round of 16 against a strong Croatian side they still won the hearts of many and they will go down in history with their historic run.
