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After jumping out to a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute, Spain conceded two quick second-half goals to Japan en route to a 2-1 loss Thursday at Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598422462420910081?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
Chaotic Group E
Japan clinched the top seed in Group E after finishing with six points, while Spain secured the No. 2 seed to advance to the Round of 16. Although Germany matched Spain’s four points following a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, Spain won the tiebreaker with a +6 goal differential. It marks the second straight World Cup in which Germany — who won the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil — is eliminated after group play.
“It’s just all unbelievably bitter for us that the Japanese managed to win,” German forward Thomas Müller said after the match. “It was a realistic scenario, even if it ended up in a tie, . . . but the result is that things didn’t end up the way we wanted.”
https://twitter.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1598432647218225152?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
Germany misses the knockout stage in consecutive FIFA World Cups for the first time in men's national team history pic.twitter.com/mrWcQBqtvG
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) December 1, 2022
Japan Pulls Off Comeback Victory
Álavaro Morata gave Spain an early advantage after the 30-year-old forward scored on a header — his third goal in three World Cup matches — in the 11th minute.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598396214269149197?s=20&t=Dkxai0S09nwthA1Tu2vvdg
But Japan answered with a pair of goals in the opening six minutes of the second half. Japanese forward Ritsu Doan substituted in at halftime and evened the match during the 48th minute.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598408363959877657?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
Less than three minutes later, Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka scored the game-winning goal after the ball nearly went out-of-bounds.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598409313176981504?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
Germany Beats Costa Rica As Both Squads Exit Qatar
Germany erased a 2-1 deficit and scored three unanswered goals in the second half to prevail against Costa Rica.
Kai Havertz came off the bench for Germany and tied the match in the 73rd minute.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598414555373355008?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
12 minutes later, the Chelsea midfielder scored the go-ahead goal.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598417412084342785?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
Just before extra time, forward Niclas Füllkrug netted an insurance goal, but the Germans could not control their own destiny.
https://twitter.com/FOXSoccer/status/1598419044973027338?s=20&t=upsMuxhZ9DA_YSWQeYF6kw
Round of 16
Japan— ranked No. 24 in the FIFA Men’s World Ranking — will take on No. 12 Croatia in the Round of 16 Monday at 10 a.m. No. 7 Spain will get an extra day to rest as the 2010 World Cup champions prepare to face No. 22 Morocco Tuesday morning at 10.
