Japan rides wave of emotion to top of group
IT was all going normally until soon after 11pm local time. Then all hell broke loose.
Spain led Japan 1-0 at halftime. The Asian superpower responded by changing its tactics and mindset.
It attacked Spain without the ball in a full-on pressing assault that led to two goals within three minutes, the second bundled home by Ao Tanaka after the ball looked to have gone out of play.
At Al Bayt Stadium, meanwhile, Costa Rica was challenging Germany. Then it was leading the European giant.
For three minutes, the central Americans led Germany and were through.
The unthinkable was on. Germany and Spain, five World Cups between them, were on their way home.
The ripple of murmurs at the Khalifa Stadium, full of Japanese and Spaniards, became a wall of sound. Germany equalised at Al Bayt, Spanish hearts settled, Costa Rica dipped back down and Spain was back in.
Germany scored again, which meant Spain was safe, but not Japan, which needed to hold out to survive. If Spain scored, Japan was out.
One slip, one mistake and one goal conceded would plummet the Japanese from first to third. Seven extra minutes were added.
Japan’s noisy blue pocket of fans kept their rhythm, urging a resistance. Attacking like madmen to start the second half, defending was the only option at the end.
Japan held on. The full-time whistle prompted an explosion of noise from the World Cup’s most polite fans, who ended the night, like they had the previous two games, by cleaning their stadium.
Germany was the one left feeling like rubbish. It won but it is out. Spain lost but is through and Japan was the major winner.