Spain - Japan: Hard to surprise
* Spain - Japan: 2pm on December 2, on MetaSports.
Against Japan at Khalifa Stadium, Doha today, Spain controls their own destiny and that of the German team. The army under Luis Enrique only needs 1 point to secure a place in the 1/8 round, while victory will help them continue with the first place. At that time, Spain will meet the second team of Group F - where Croatia, Belgium and Morocco are competing for tickets to continue - in the 1/8 round.
Spain's victory over Japan was also the result Germany expected. At that time, Germany only needed to beat Costa Rica to continue. If Japan and Spain tie, Hansi Flick's teachers and students must win Costa Rica by at least two goals.
There is certainly a view that Germany's elimination will make Spain less of a potential opponent that can compete for the championship. However, midfielder Koke insists Spain - the team that has won the last match of the group stage in eight of the last nine World Cups - does not care about the outcome or the situation of the remaining match.
"Our only strategy is to prepare, compete and win against Japan," Koke insisted. "We've always done that. Your job is to calculate how the brackets will be. But our idea is to respect every opponent by aiming to win. That's the only way. the best that Spain prepared for the match".
Enrique shared the same opinion, determined that Spain would do its best to win against Japan and ensure the first place finish in the group, even though the team only needed a draw to continue.
According to the branch, if Spain passes the 1/8 round, Spain is likely to meet Brazil - the first team on the FIFA rankings and the number one candidate for the championship according to the bookie's assessment - in the quarterfinals. That is assuming the South American representative also holds the top G and wins in the 1/8 round.
But Koke doesn't fear this prospect. "I think Spain is not afraid of any opponent," the 30-year-old midfielder emphasized. "At the same time, we have the utmost respect for all the teams. We haven't thought about the quarter-finals because first of all we have to win against Japan. If we get through the next two games to meet Brazil in the quarter-finals, We want to get there in the best way."
Meanwhile, Japan's position in the group is somewhat precarious. Hajime Moriyasu's teachers and students followed up with a shocking victory over Germany with a similarly surprising loss to Costa Rica. This means that Japan is forced to win against Spain to determine its own fate and enter the first round of 16 in two consecutive World Cups.
Praising Spain as the world's top team, but Moriyasu believes his players can surprise as when knocking down Germany. "We shouldn't have been on an emotional roller coaster," said the 54-year-old coach. "But victories and defeats are in the past and now we are starting to prepare for the next match. Japan can make the same feat against Spain as it did against Germany by going one step at a time." .
Opta's model predicts Spain's chance of winning and taking the top spot at 67.1%. Meanwhile, Japan's probability of winning is only 12.3% and the draw rate is 20.6%.
According to The Analyst, the most realistic goal for Japan is to hold Spain back, and hopefully Costa Rica can do the same against Germany in the match at the same time.
