Goals from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka helped Japan reach the World Cup last 16 as Group E winners with a remarkable 2-1 victory over Spain, with La Roja joining them as Germany were dumped out.
With both sides knowing a win would see them advance, Spain wasted little time in hitting the front as Alvaro Morata headed beyond Shuichi Gonda for his third goal of the tournament early on.
However, Spain failed to capitalise on their huge dominance of possession as Japan turned the game on its head with a quickfire second-half double, Doan firing home from range before Tanaka bundled in a second.
Spain were briefly on their way out of the World Cup when Costa Rica took the lead against Germany in the group’s other fixture.
But Germany’s late comeback in a 4-2 win ensured La Roja survived an incredible finale to go through as runners-up.
Junya Ito shot into the side netting after Sergio Busquets’ early error, and Japan were punished for that miss when Morata nodded Cesar Azpilicueta’s pinpoint cross home after 11 minutes.
Dani Olmo and Nico Williams saw efforts blocked as Spain kept Japan at arm’s length in a comfortable opening half, though Luis Enrique’s side themselves struggled to create further chances.
However, Japan substitute Doan needed just three minutes to make an impact after his half-time introduction, lashing a ferocious 20-yard strike beyond Unai Simon to level the match.
Japan completed a remarkable turnaround just three minutes later as Tanaka bundled home Kaoru Mitoma’s cross, with a drawn-out VAR review ruling the Brighton and Hove Albion man kept the ball in play.
Gonda denied Marco Asensio and Olmo in quick succession as Spain spent the remainder of the game camped in Japan’s half, but Hajime Moriyasu’s men produced a resolute performance to cling on, beating two previous World Cup winners to first place in memorable fashion.
