Why Japan can’t be underestimated in the last 16

DOHA. — Of all the unexpected lessons learned so far at this FIFA World Cup, perhaps the biggest one is that you write Japan off at your peril.

THEIR next opponents, Croatia, beware — because the Blue Samurai have emerged as the comeback kings of Qatar, and their inspired substitutions have already claimed two huge victims.

Japan’s brilliant recovery to beat Germany in their first game of the tournament had felt like a freak result when they followed it up with a limp defeat by Costa Rica that left them as outsiders to reach the last 16. But, back at Khalifa International Stadium, also the scene of that stunning opening victory, Hajime Moriyasu’s side staged a brilliant repeat performance against Spain to emerge as unlikely winners of Group E on Thursday.

They became only the third team in World Cup history to be losing at half-time and come back to win two matches at the same tournament — after Brazil in 1938 and West Germany in 1970 — and did so in memorable style. Japan’s substitutes had scored both goals against Germany and they played an important role here too — just with an even more instant impact.

“When it counted, they made the effective changes,” said former England goalkeeper Karen Bardsley on BBC Radio 5 Live. “They took advantage of the chances they had.”

They certainly did. Ritsu Doan equalised within four minutes of coming off the bench in the Germany game — this time barely three minutes had elapsed since he came on at the start of the second half when he let fly from the edge of the box.

Another replacement, Karou Mitoma, made his presence felt just 142 seconds later when he slid to hook Doan’s low cross back across goal for Ao Tanaka to convert.

This time, there was more than a hint of controversy involved too, with the ball appearing to go out of play before Mitoma reached it, and the fact it took the intervention of the video assistant referee ( VAR) for the goal to stand just added to the drama — and provoked a lot of debate too.

“There is great technology nowadays for ‘big football’, said Moriyasu afterwards. “If it were really out it would have been a goal-kick.”

The Spain supporters were rather less impressed when the VAR decision was announced, but it would not be the only time they stared incredulously at the big screens around the stadium. — Sport.