Spain are struggling to create the clear-cut chance they desperately need.
90' +4
Spain are continuing to search for that elusive equaliser but Japan retain a threat on the break. We're set for a tense final few minutes.
90' +2
Fati and Pedri combine promisingly in the final third only to lose the ball following a stray pass.
90'
There will be seven minutes of additional time at the end of this second half.
88'
Mitsoma breaks into space down the left flank only for Rodri to recover the ball impressively.
87'
W. Endo enters the game and replaces A. Tanaka.
86'
Endo has replaced Tanaka to bring fresh legs to Japan's midfield.
84'
Ito, played clean through on goal, loses the ball after jostling with Carvajal. A dangerous moment for Spain.
82'
Asano directs a header on goal following a free-kick from the left side. But Simon makes a comfortable save.
Minute
Description
80'
Olmo tries his luck with a driven effort from distance but it strikes a Japanese defender before reaching the goal.
78'
Spain have pinned Japan back but they're struggling to find the pass that will unlock their defence.
76'
Ferran tries to play a lofted ball into the box to find Fati only for Japan to clear their lines.
74'
Germany have equalised against Costa Rica - meaning as things stand Japan and Spain will be progressing.
72'
Costa Rica have taken a 2-1 lead over Germany in the group's other game - meaning that as things stand they and Japan will progress to the Round of 16 while Spain and Germany will be eliminated.
70'
Tomiyasu has replaced Kamada to shore up Japan's defence.
69'
T. Tomiyasu enters the game and replaces D. Kamada.
68'
Ansu Fati enters the game and replaces Gavi.
Jordi Alba enters the game and replaces Alejandro Balde.
Fati has replaced Gavi to bring something more to Spain's attack.
Alba has come in for Balde to bring more experience to Spain's defence.
66'
Japan's defence is looking far more solid and impregnable than it did in the first half.
64'
Spain's midfield aren't operating with the same swagger and poise as in the first half. They're in a firefight.
62'
T. Asano enters the game and replaces D. Maeda.
Asano has replaced Maeda up front to inject fresh legs into their attack.
60'
Conversely, Japan are playing with a great deal more confidence.
59'
The game has returned to its regular pattern but everything has changed. Spain are now chasing this game.
57'
Ferran Torres enters the game and replaces Nico Williams.
Marco Asensio enters the game and replaces Álvaro Morata.
Asensio has come in for Morata through the middle.
Ferran has replaced Williams on the right flank.
55'
Spain have been rattled by Japan's comeback.
53'
In an amazing sequence of events, the referee ruled Tanaka's goal out as he judged the ball to have gone out of play in the buildup. But a subsequent VAR check went against the referee and awarded Japan the goal.
51'
A. Tanaka has scored a goal for Japan! Assist by K. Mitoma.
GOAL! Tanaka scores to fire Japan into the lead. Doan did superbly to square the ball across the face of goal to find Mitoma, who did well to cut the ball back to Tanaka, who managed to bundle the ball over the line and make it 2-1.
Mitoma did well to cut the ball back for Tanaka to score.
50'
Spain will be disappointed with how they defended for that goal.
48'
R. Dōan has scored a goal for Japan! Assist by J. Ito.
GOAL! Doan gets Japan back on level terms. The substitute, just on the pitch, seizes the ball at the edge of the box after sloppy defending by Spain before unleashing a fine effort into the top corner of the net, too much power on the shot for Simon to save it.
Ito did well to move the ball to Doan so quickly.
46'
R. Dōan enters the game and replaces T. Kubo.
K. Mitoma enters the game and replaces Y. Nagatomo.
Dani Carvajal enters the game and replaces César Azpilicueta.
Doan has replaced Take in the final third.
Carvajal has replaced Azpilicueta at right-back.
Mitoma has come in for Nagatomo on the left flank.
We're back underway here at Khalifa International Stadium.
45' +1
HALF-TIME: JAPAN 0-1 SPAIN
45'
M. Yoshida gets yellow.
Yoshida is booked after snapping into Morata.
There will be one minute of additional time at the end of this first half.
44'
S. Taniguchi gets yellow.
Taniguchi is issued a yellow card for a poor tackle on Gavi.
42'
Olmo, played in by Balde, does well to cut back inside before trying to funnell the ball into the box. The move breaks down although Spain manage to retain possession.
40'
Spain lose possession to Tanaka in a dangerous position, only for Balde to recover possession without breaking a sweat.
39'
K. Itakura gets yellow.
38'
Itakura is booked for a late challenge on Pedri.
36'
Japan have put together a couple of competent sequences of possession in these last few minutes - but Spain are live to any danger and quick to cut it out.
34'
Kamada thinks he has the ball in space inside Spain's half - only for the linesman's flag to be raised. Caught offside.
32'
Japan, growing frustrated with their lack of possession, have committed a couple of cynical fouls on Spain players.
30'
Pedri misplaces a line-breaking pass - a rare moment in an opening half-hour where he's hardly put a foot wrong.
28'
Japan are still struggling to even get out of their own half, here. Spain completely dominant.
24'
Rodri and Pau are operating a space usually reserved for central midfielders. So confident in possession, dictating the pace of the game.
22'
Morata has another strike on goal from a tight angle - although he does draw a save from Gonda. Gavi was the chief architect of the opportunity.
20'
Spain are really pinning Japan back into their own half. Not giving them one second on the ball.
18'
Spain are treating the ball with care but, when they do lose it, they're pressing with aggression and intensity to win it back.
16'
Gavi, Busquets and Pedri are running the midfield and Japan's defence is being stretched by how wide Spain are going courtesy of their marauding full-backs.
14'
Spain have dominated virtually all of the possession, here. Playing with such confidence.
12'
Spain have a spring in their step after taking the lead.
11'
Álvaro Morata has scored a goal for Spain! Assist by César Azpilicueta.
GOAL! Morata makes it 1-0 to Spain. The forward arrows a fine header past Gonda after Azpilicueta floats in an inch-perfect cross from the right side.
Azpilicueta's ball in from the right side was perfectly delivered.
10'
Olmo whips in a cross from the left flank for Morata, whose header is easily saved by Gonda. The Spaniard looked clearly offside in any case.
6'
Japan, set up to counter Spain, are playing with a quite strict flat back five.
Williams gets down the right flank before pulling the ball back across the face of goal. Japan manage to clear their lines as far as the edge of the box, where Busquets seizes upon the ball before chancing an effort with a shot on goal. But he fails to trouble the goalkeeper.
4'
Spain, setting their stall out early doors, have seen virtually all of the ball so far. They're going to dominate possession.
2'
Williams and Gavi combine down the right wing before the latter tries to arrow a ball into the box. But it finds nobody and runs out of play.
1'
We're underway here at Khalifa International Stadium.
Hello and welcome to the live text commentary for the World Cup Group E clash between Japan and Spain.
This is the final game of the group phase for both these sides and neither are mathematically sure of their place in the Round of 16.
Japan are second in Group E having taken three points from their opening two games. They're a point behind group leaders Spain and level with third-placed Costa Rica. Germany, rooted to the bottom of the table, are two points behind them. Japan need at least a point to qualify for the Round of 16 - and that's dependent on Costa Rica and Germany drawing in the group's other game. If that game is won by either of those sides Japan need to win, provided Germany make up the goal difference in their case.
Spain are top of Group E having taken four points from their opening two games. They're a point clear of both Japan and Costa Rica and are three clear of bottom-placed Germany. All they need is a point to secure their place in the Round of 16. That will also be enough to win the group should Costa Rica fail to beat Germany, but if they do beat Germany only a win will ensure they finish first.
Japan have made five changes from the side that lost 1-0 to Costa Rica. Taniguchi has replaced Yamane in defence, Ito and Tanaka have come in for Endo and Doan, while Take and Maeda have replaced Soma and Ueda.
Spain have made five changes from the side that drew 1-1 with Germany. Azpilicueta, Pau and Balde have replaced Carvajal, Laporte and Alba in defence, while Williams and Morata have come in for Ferran and Asensio in the final third.
Japan face Croatia in the Round of 16 this Monday with Spain locking horns with Morocco the following day.
Thanks for joining the live text commentary for this match. Until next time, goodbye.
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