Mexico City: Former Mexico player Hugo Sanchez has alleged that Spain deliberately lost the match against Japan to avoid facing Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Sanchez also said Spanish coach Lui N Rieke knows the best way to avoid playing against Brazil in the quarter-finals.
But the Spanish coach Lui N Rieke denied such allegations. He clarified that they did not want to finish second in the group and were trying to be first. Japan and Costa Rica would come out to score with 15 seconds left to break the scoreless tie. Or when Germany are 5-0 up and we’re trying to equalize and Japan scores and we’re out. So he did not attempt such a gamble, he said.
Earlier, Japan advanced to the pre-quarters after defeating former champions Spain 2-1 in Group E. The progress of the Asian powers is as the GRAP champions with six points in three games. Ritsu Don (48) and Ao Tanaka (51) scored for Japan. Alvaro Morata (11) scored for Spain. Despite losing, Spain also reached the pre-quarters as the second-placed team with the best goal average. Japan will face Croatia and Spain will face Morocco in the pre-quarters.