Japan like their first group match in Group E shocked Spain to qualify as group leaders. A 2-1 win for Japan saw them go through to the last 16 of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar and ensure Germany exits the World Cup.
Alvaro Morata in the 11th minute gave Spain the lead in the first half as it ended 1-0 going into the break. He nodded in a cross from Cesar Azpilicueta at point-blank range to get his 30th Spain goal.
Two quick goals by Japan in the second half saw Japan through to the last 16 as Spain never recovered.
Ritsu Doan scored the first in the 48th minute and Ao Tanaka with the second in the 51st minute.
Spain finishes as group runners-up on four points by virtue of their superior goal difference over Germany.
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Japan will play Croatia on December 5 while runners-up Spain will take on Morocco on December 6.
Germany exits again
Germany falls at the first hurdle for the second successive World Cup. The four-time champions beat Costa Rica 4-2 at the Al Bayt Stadium to end their campaign with a victory.
Germany needed favors from Spain by beating Japan, but it was not to be as Spain also scrapped through.
Serge Gnabry opened scoring for Germany in the 10th minute after they dominated the game. That was the only goal going into the break as Germany could not make their possession count.
Costa Rica got an equaliser against the run of play in the second half. Yeltsin Tejeda pounced on the rebound to score.
Neuer could only parry Kendall Waston’s header and Yeltsin Tejeda scored from the rebound.
Germany was shocked when Juan Pablo Vargas gave Costa Rica the lead in the 70th minute.
Substitute Kai Havertz equalized for Germany in the 73rd minute and got his brace in the 85th minute.
Niclas Fullkrug added a late fourth in the 89th minute, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in Qatar.
