LUIS ENRIQUE spent his pre-match press conference talking about permutations.
Instead, his team left him with serious heart palpitations as Japan sprung yet another stunning World Cup upset to top Group E – and almost dump Spain OUT in the process.
A relaxed Enrique admitted pre-match he had considered tactically trying to finish second in this group, in order to avoid Brazil and secure an “easier” route to the final.
It ended up that way by accident, but it looked as though those plans had been tossed in the bin with a fine first half performance to leave the football purist drooling.
Complete domination is an understatement. The Spaniards trotted down the tunnel at the break with 83 per cent possession and 562 passes, compared to 127 for their weary opponents.
Japan – evidenced by their opening day comeback to beat Germany 2-1 – are no mugs, yet they did not get a sniff, made to look like a bog-standard Tokyo Sunday league mob.
Chuck in an 11th minute header from Alvaro Morata and things were looking more than rosy for Spain. They were turning on the style while still conserving their energy.
Croatia awaited in the Last 16, with a potential quarter against Brazil on the cards. Confidence was sky high. Sorted.
What Enrique did not envisage was yet another team talk of a lifetime – as well as two inspired substitutions – from Blue Samurai coach Hajime Moriyasu.
It was one that almost cost Spain a knock-out spot here in Qatar.
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For a brief moment as Costa Rica took the lead against Germany in the 70th minute, they were out, only to sneak back in to second almost instantly. Phew.
The shyest of characters, you could lose Moriyasu in an elevator, but put him in a dressing room with a team under the cosh and he does the business time after time.
On came Ritsu Doan and Kaoru Mitoma. By the 48th minute, they were level. By the 51st minute, they were ahead – the latter by the barest of margins.
Against the Germans, it took Doan until the 75th minute to equalise, yet he wasted no time here, cutting inside from a poor Unai Simon pass out from the back and firing goalwards.
Simon will be disappointed, getting a firm hand to it. The Japanese were ecstatic.
The Spanish sections of the Khalifa International Stadium were so confident of a win during the first half death by a gazillion passes, they were organising a Mexican wave.
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But bums were firmly on seats as Japan sparked another attack. Doan involved again, firing a ball across the six-yard box and Mitoma snuck it back for Ao Tanaka to tap in.
Replays at first showed the ball for Mitoma had drifted out for a goal kick, only for another angle to highlight it had stayed in by a half a whisker.
VAR deliberated for an agonising two minutes before awarding the goal. Cue pandemonium.
With Spain lacking a clinical edge to break down a now determined Japanese defensive outfit, attention turned to the other game as Costa Rica went ahead.
If anything, the Germans did Enrique and his nervy boys a reluctant favour by going 4-2 up.
There was no way they would score another five to even match Spain’s goal difference.
As for Japan, it is the Croats for them, and potentially the Samba boys after that.
Going by this performance, you wouldn’t put it past them downing another international heavyweight.
