Spain put forth one of the most dominating performances ever at a World Cup in its opener, but a subsequent draw means there’s still work to be done to punch its ticket to the knockout stage.
La Furia Roja need a win or draw against Japan to ensure their place in the round of 16. Japan had impressed mightily in a come-from-behind win over Germany to open play in Qatar, but a loss to Costa Rica—the same side Spain beat 7–0—means that the Samurai Blue have a more difficult path to the knockout stage.
Japan needs to win to guarantee its spot in the knockout stage, while a draw sets up a potentially chaotic scenario that would depend on the outcome of the Germany vs.