Kaoru Mitoma jumped in, kept the ball in play and managed to assist the decisive 2-1 goal with his pass.
But the question everyone is asking: Did the ball cross the short line?
– I wouldn’t have been disappointed if the goal hadn’t been approved, says top scorer Ao Tanaka, according to Kicker.
Ao Tanaka’s 2-1 goal against Spain put Japan top of the group and sent Germany out of the World Cup.
However, it was approved after a lengthy VAR review. It became a point of discussion after that.
The words of the scorer Tanaka
With a dive, Kaoru Mitoma manages to keep the ball in play. A second later, the Japanese celebrated O Tanaka’s goal. The officials’ first assessment was not to allow the goal because they felt the ball was over the short line before Mitoma could reach it. But after the intervention of the video assistant referee, it was a goal.
Goal scorer Tanaka could not assess whether his national teammate managed to keep the ball for the Japanese on the right side of the short line.
— so I wouldn’t have been disappointed if the goal hadn’t been approved, Tanaka says according to Kicker.
Luis Enrique: It must have been fake
Spain captain Luis Enrique said he was able to see a steady picture of the situation.
It must have been fake. The image could not have been real, according to the BBC, citing the fact that the target should not have approved if the image he saw was authentic.
Mike Dean, the former Super League referee, was convinced Japan’s 2-1 goal was legal.
– It’s the right decision. You can’t see any grass between the ball and the short line, Dean says be into sports.
He is also supported by Jonas Ericsson, who was also an outstanding referee. Al Suwaidi shared a photo on Instagram and wrote:
“You can’t be sure that’s exactly where the ball is spinning. But if that’s where the ball is spinning — that’s okay.”.
Japan will meet Croatia in the round of 16, and Morocco is waiting for Spain.