In the match of the 3rd round of the 2022 World Cup against Spain, the Japanese national team tried to create a miracle and make it to the play-off round. And this was achieved by the wards of Hajime Moriyasu, who beat the “fury roha” in a decisive match.
Japan – Spain 2:1
Goal: Ritsu Doana, 48, Tanaka, 51 – Morata, 11
The Spanish national team entered the match against Japan almost as a participant in the 2022 World Cup playoffs. Luis Enrique’s wards needed, at least, a draw. The Japanese faced a much more difficult task. “Samurai” needed to create a real miracle to continue performances at the World Cup.
Follow the 2022 FIFA World Cup with us: calendar and match results
Confident in their abilities, the Spaniards put four players under the age of 20 in the starting line-up: Alejandro Balde, Nico Williams, Pedri and Gavi.
Already in the 11th minute of the meeting, Furia Roha took the lead. Alvaro Morata took advantage of Cesar Azpilicueta’s cross and headed the ball into the net of the “Islanders” goal.
The teams went into the break with a score of 1:0 in favor of Luis Enrique’s wards. However, this course of events did not suit Japan.
A short rest went in favor of the “samurais”, who equalized the score in the 48th minute of the match. A fantastic shot by winger Ritsu Doan reached its goal – 1:1.
Confused by this start of the second half of the game, the Spaniards immediately missed the second ball. Midfielder Ao Tanaka took advantage of a sweet pass from Kaora Mitoma and scored on the empty net of Spain – 2:1. Even the most ardent fans of the Japanese national team did not expect such a course of events.
Now the Spaniards found themselves in the role of catching up. Enrique’s team began to control the ball better, but it rarely came to dangerous moments.
The referee’s final whistle recorded another sensation from the Japanese national team. “Samurai” defeated “fury roha” with a score of 2:1, leaving Germany behind in the championship.
Lukaku broke the bench after Belgium’s ignominious exit
Belgium forward Romelu Lukaku did not hold back his emotions after Belgium’s elimination from the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He decided to take out his anger on the bench.
Belgium played against Croatia in the last round. And the team had to win.
After the first half, with the score 0:0, Romelu Lukaku entered the field. And by the end of the game, he wasted at least four chances to score. Once, after his shot, the ball flew into the post.
As it was, Belgium failed to beat Croatia and was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup, the “checkered” made it to the playoffs
So it was Lukaku who became the main loser of this match. After the game, the attacker did not hold back his emotions. He cried on the assistant head coach’s shoulder. And after that he decided to play his aggression on the bench for spares. Passing by her, he hit the protective glass with his fist, which flew away, falling on one of the representatives of the Belgian team.
Who made it to the 1/8 finals of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
The first teams that will continue the fight at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar after the group stage have been determined.
32 teams are participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup. They were divided into eight groups – four national teams in each. The winners of each group, as well as the second-placed teams, advance to the 1/8 finals.
At the group stage, there are three rounds, after which the teams that entered the playoffs are determined. Even after the matches of the second round, three national teams were known, which secured their way to the 1/8 finals. These are the national teams of France, Brazil and Portugal. Each of these national teams won two games in the first two matches, thus guaranteeing a place in the playoffs.
On Tuesday, November 29, the first matches of the third round were played. Thus, four more teams were determined, which made it to the 1/8 finals of the WC-2022.
The teams from Group A were the first to do so. The Netherlands became the winner of the group, and the second place was taken by the Senegal national team, which beat the Ecuador national team in the fight for this position.
From Group B, England and the USA made it to the 1/8 finals. So it is the English who will play against Senegal on December 4. And the Netherlands will face the USA a day before that – on December 3.
Although France lost to Tunisia on Wednesday, November 30, they left Group D in first place. But the second team that made it to the 1/8 finals from this quartet was Australia, which won this ticket in the match against Denmark.
Their opponents were the national teams of Argentina and Poland from Group C. At the same time, the Poles reached the 1/8 finals only because they had a better difference in goals scored and conceded than Mexico. But now they have a match against France on December 4. Argentina will face Australia on December 3.