LIVE: Follow Japan vs. Spain updates from 2022 World Cup
Luis Enrique’s side were close to sealing that status already after Alvaro Morata put them ahead against Germany on the back of a 7-0 romp versus Costa Rica.
But Niclas Fullkrug snatched a 1-1 draw for a Germany side who had been stunned 2-1 by Japan in their first game.
That gave Hajime Moriyasu’s side the opportunity to take control of the group, only to slump to a lacklustre 1-0 defeat against Costa Rica and leave their fate in the balance.
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Japan vs Spain lineups
Luis Enrique insists his Spain side are not tempted by any final-round chicanery in Group E, even though a draw for Japan could help to eliminate Germany.
Similarly, a second-place finish would mean La Roja avoid a potential quarterfinal against Brazil.
“We have reflected on it,” Luis Enrique said. “But from a professional point of view, imagine that we speculate: ‘Okay, we want to be second, that’s in our interests.’
“We get to the 95th minute and in both games it’s 0-0, 0-0, [thinking:] ‘Everything’s going great.’ And then Costa Rica go and score and Japan score.
“And in 15 seconds you’re out because you have been speculating for 90 minutes. Or the other way around: Germany are winning 5-0 and we’re drawing and that will do and then Japan score and you’re out.”
For Moriyasu, the equation might similarly cause a bit of head-scratching. If Japan win, they are through. A draw could get them through, so long as Costa Rica don’t win, or if Germany win by a single-goal margin and don’t outscore the Samurai Blue on the day.
“Tomorrow is going to be a high-pressure game for all players but we must believe in ourselves,” Moriyasu told his pre-match news conference.
“They must believe in themselves, they must. They must believe in their teammates in order to fight against our opponent. Hopefully, they will be at their best and the result will follow.”
MORE: Group E: How things stand for Spain, Germany, Japan, Costa Rica
Japan confirmed starting 11
(4-2-3-1, right to left): Japan (3-4-3, right to left): 12. Gonda (GK) — 3. Taniguchi, 4. Itakura, 22. Yoshida — 5. Nagatomo, 3. Morita, 14. Ito, 17. Tanaka — 15. Kamada, 11. Kubo, 25. Maeda.
Spain confirmed starting 11
(4-3-3, right to left): Spain (4-3-3, right to left): 23. Simon (GK) — 2. Azpilicueta, 16. Rodri, 4. Pau, 14. Balde — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 12. Williams, 7. Morata, 21. Olmo
MORE: BOTHROYD: Japan shocked the world with Germany win — and I couldn’t be happier!
Japan vs Spain World Cup squads
Here are the names on Japan and Spain’s World Cup squads in Qatar (caps correct as of the start of Qatar 2022):
Japan
Spain
*Alejandro Balde replaced the injured Jose Gaya
