Spain vs Japan live today: Germany needs help - Morata is snapping again!

Created: 01/12/2022, 20:46

By: Christoph Gschossmann

Alvaro Morata (No. 7) gives the Spaniards an early lead.

© Jewel SAMAD / AFP

Fingers crossed for the "Red Fury": Germany must hope for the Iberians to have a chance of progressing.

The live ticker for Spain vs Japan.

• Spain 1-0 Japan (-:-) - Kick-off Thursday 1 December, 8pm

• Morata's run continues: the goalgetter puts Spain in the lead early on.

• Group finals at the 2022 World Cup: Germany (parallel against Costa Rica) depends on the result of the game.

• To refresh, press F5 or swipe the smartphone screen down.

Spain 1-0 Japan (-:-)

45 minutes:

Yoshida also gets a yellow card against Morata - but that was actually a clear swallow from the scorer.

44 minutes:

Taniguchi also sees a yellow card after a foul on Pedri.

43 minutes:

Gavi and Pedri are not factors at all.

Japan covers the two super talents quite well.

41 minutes:

Tanaka appears on the right baseline, but then takes too much time.

The ball is gone.

Spain keeper Unai Emeri almost misses the ball

39 minutes:

Itakura sees the first yellow of the game after boarding in midfield.

If he had caught the ball there instead of the opponent, a counterattack would have been possible.

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38 minutes:

In the last few minutes, the Japanese have tasted a little more blood and are running a little higher again.

36 minutes:

Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon takes too much time and almost misses the ball. A murmur goes through the stadium!

It can go that fast...

35 minutes:

Total dominance of the Spaniards - but it hasn't been mandatory for a long time.

And then it's "only" 1-0.

However: The Japanese don't seem particularly keen on powering themselves out on counterattacks either.

32 minutes:

Busquets has injured his right foot and remains down, but can probably continue playing.

30 minutes:

Japan stays put: they don't take big risks.

They choose their moments.

Sure, it takes strength to keep chasing the ball.

Morata checks Gonda but misses the 2-0

27 minutes:

Unusual ball possession by the Japanese in the Iberian half.

But they survive this.

Nevertheless, a small glimmer of hope for Japan, who previously only saw Unai Simon from afar.

23 minutes:

Morata checks Gonda from ten meters while falling, this time the keeper grabs.

22 minutes:

The Spaniards can do whatever they want in midfield and diligently collect possession.

Germany currently has nothing to fear.

In contrast to the first few minutes, little or nothing happens in the Spanish half.

Meanwhile, a Laola wave is sloshing through the stadium.

19 minutes:

Kamada is edited by three Spaniards.

The Japanese seem a bit frustrated offensively.

16 minutes:

Japan continues like this for the time being, leaving the ball to the Spaniards.

The Asians still have a long time to correct the result.

14 minutes:

Germany is second in the group after these two goals.

Morata scores: Spain takes an early lead

11 minutes: Goal!

1-0 for Spain - scorer: Morata!

The goalgetter is completely free on the five and heads a precise Azpilicueta cross into the net from the right!

Shouldn't Gonda have come out?

So the keeper has no chance.

10 minutes:

Germany leads in the parallel game!

9 minutes:

The Japanese leave a decent, courageous impression.

This is not good news for the DFB-Elf.

But one shows his danger right away: Morata beheads a cross into the arms of Gonda.

7 minutes:

Clearly, this will be a game of patience for the Europeans.

Japan supplies the rooms well.

A first attempt - a long-distance attempt by Busquets - is still safe.

But not on the other side!

After a mistake by Busquets, Ito hits the right side netting.

4 minutes:

Lots of ball possession for the Iberians from the start.

But there are no chances yet.

The Asians are still safe.

2 minutes:

The Japanese start relatively early.

Do we see the aggressive face of the team again today?

1st minute:

The ball rolls!

Spain vs Japan: Group E final

7:55 p.m.:

The players sing the anthems.

It's about to start!

7:44 p.m .:

DFB manager Oliver Bierhoff has revealed that the DFB kickers will not be able to keep the score in Spain against Japan up to date, at least until half-time.

Here you will be better informed than Thomas Müller & Co.

7:32 p.m .:

The Spaniards have a top line-up.

Both youngsters Gavi and Pedri start, as does Busquets, who has a yellow bias.

Morata can try his luck in the storm.

Update, 6:26 p.m .:

The football associations of Spain and Japan announced a collaboration just hours before their national teams met at the World Cup in Qatar.

This was announced by the Spanish association RFEF after a joint meeting with the association leaders Luis Rubiales and Kohzo Tashima on Thursday in Doha.

The two umbrella organizations had already agreed to cooperate with a handshake in 2020, then the corona pandemic intervened. 

Spain wants to promote its candidacy for the 2030 World Cup together with Portugal and Ukraine in the next few years in Asia.

Spain and Japan are planning international matches at different levels and cooperation in women's football and refereeing.

Spain meets Japan: a draw is enough for the 2010 world champion

First report, 6:05 p.m .:

Doha / Munich: Spain is almost further – how much do the Iberians stretch to defeat Japan in the last group game and thus help Germany?

Coach Luis Enrique stressed again that his team would not play for a draw, which would be enough for the 2010 world champions to reach the round of 16.

Although that was a "terrific question", said the head coach of the leaders at the final press conference in Al-Rajjan, he emphasized: "We want to stay first.

First!” 

Spain not aiming for a draw - is Morata playing from the start?

Luis Enrique described some scenarios of how things could go wrong if his team was aiming for a draw.

For example: "If the score is 0-0 in both games in the 90th minute, and in the 95th minute, with 15 seconds to go, Japan and Costa Rica score." 

Before the game at the Chalifa International Stadium, Luis Enrique left it open whether Gavi and Rodri will play.

This depends on the final training.

The 18-year-old FC Barcelona playmaker, who was hit in the knee in the 1-1 draw with Germany, and the Manchester City defender had not trained with the team recently.

The Spain coach also left open whether Alvaro Morata would storm from the start this time.

(Match schedule for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar)

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Japan still hopes: “Most important game of career”

Japan also hopes to progress.

"Our performance against Spain can ensure that Japanese football has a very different future," said national team captain Maya Yoshida.

"Probably a lot of children will be watching, so I'm hoping for more World Cup games.

And that's why we have to win," added the veteran.

The Japanese had won 2-1 against Germany at the start, but gambled away the great starting position with a 0-1 draw against Costa Rica.

Yoshida sees the match against Spain as "the most important game of my career".