Did the ball cross the line, dear blog reader? That is the age-old World Cup question for Ze Chermans, who crashed out of The World Cup as Japan beat Spain thanks to an opinion-dividing winner which left some scratching their heads. Kaoru Mitoma's cutback for Ao Tanaka's tap-in happened after the ball looked (from some camera angles, at least) to have crossed the byeline. Even after cropping and zooming in on the footage, it looked incredibly close. Eventually it was ruled that the ball had not fully crossed the line. In other words, if you drew an imaginary line upwards at ninety degrees from the far edge of the whitewash, it would have still passed through the curve of the ball - albeit only just - even though the part of the ball that touched the ground had fully crossed the line. The goal was initially ruled out by the assistant referee after a long pause, then the video assistant referee intervened and ultimately Japan's lead would stand - and they would go on to win.
Notoriously cowardly appeasers of fascists and dictators FIFA said on Friday that 'the video match officials used the goalline camera images to check if the ball was still partially on the line.' It added: 'Other cameras may offer misleading images but on the evidence available, the whole of the ball was not out of play.' 'I have seen a photo that must have been tampered with, it cannot be that this photo is real. It has to be manipulated,' claimed Spain coach Luis Enrique. 'I felt that something fishy was going on when the VAR took as much time as it did to decide.' He added that this was, clearly, a massive conspiracy involving The CIA and The Rand Corporation. And The Saucer People. And The Reverse Vampires. Probably. There was definitely something suspicious going on up at The Grassy Knoll he added. 'Luckily, the team only goes into collapse mode once every four years, otherwise I wouldn't be able to cope.' The controversy evoked memories of Frank Lampard's 'ghost goal' against Germany in 2010, when England went out in the last sixteen and - no doubt for German fans of a certain vintage - of 1966 (and all that) and Geoff Hurst's extra-time effort when England won the World Cup. Which was over the line and was correctly awarded.
It was a frantic and thrilling Thursday evening which began with Belgium, the side ranked second in the world, being eliminated after a goalless draw with Croatia in Group F. And, halfway through the second-half of the late games, both Germany and the 2010 winners Spain were, for about three minutes, both set for an early flight home. At the break Germany had a comfortable one-nil lead over Costa Rica, with Spain also winning as both European sides seemed to be cruising into the last sixteen. Then the drama unfolded rapidly. Japan levelled against Spain four minutes into the second period. Then, incredibly, a mere one hundred and forty seconds later, they were in front. Japan and Spain, despite trailing, were heading through. With just under forty minutes to go Germany and Costa Rica were going out. 'The Japan fans around me can barely believe their eyes,' said BBC Sport's Chris Bevan. 'An incredible turnaround from their team, with the added drama of a long VAR delay.' Defeat for Spain wasn't a disaster, unless Costa Rica - then trailing to Germany - took the lead. But then, Costa Rica equalised in the fifty eighth minute and, twelve minutes later, they did go ahead. Costa Rica were suddenly set to advance with Japan at Spain's expense. However, that lead lasted for only four minutes before Kai Havertz levelled for Germany.
If Germany thought the reaction to their elimination at the 2018 World Cup in Russia was bad, wait until they see the headlines back home this time around. Despite their eventual four-two win over Costa Rica, Hansi Flick's side were eliminated in the group stages for the second successive World Cup as Japan topped the group following their two-one victory against second-placed Spain. For the four-time winners Germany, whose most recent triumph was in Brazil only eight years ago, it has been a steep and chastening decline. And, you know, feking funny. The German press, former players and pundits have all had their say on the nation's World Cup exit - and the future of manager Herr Flick with Germany set to host Euro 2024. Although it is to their great credit that, on this occasion, the Germans resisted the overwhelming temptation to invade Poland. Good on ya, Germany, you're an inspiration to us all. The BBC's Berlin correspondent Jenny Hill says 'frustration and fury best sum up the mood in Germany' with the 'sense of humiliation widespread.' So, now they know how the rest of us frequently feel after World Cup disaster. Over here, it's a regular occurrence. German newspaper Bild did not hold back in their criticism of the team's performance, labelling the side 'a soccer dwarf.' Which is a bit insulting. To dwarves. They go on to suggest 'nobody' in the Germany camp - from the players to the coaching staff - can be considered world class and have marked 1 December as 'the end of a once great and proud soccer nation.' Die Welt, meanwhile, said German football has hit 'rock bottom' and 'must stop lying to itself,' citing the need for 'fundamental change' to improve results. Suddeutsche Zeitung led with the headline 'the result that fits the big mess', while Faz says the return to the top of world football is 'just an illusion for Germany.' Elsewhere, Kicker.de said 'only a nine-two' result would have helped a Germany side who have 'failed again' and Der Spiegel has started an inquest into the reasons behind the nation's piss-poor performance, labelling the people behind it as 'stubborn.' Schadenfreude is a German word, isn't it? Just checking. The criticism of Germany from former players and pundits started mere minutes after the final whistle blew in Al Khor to confirm their exit. Former captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, who played one hundred and twenty one times for Germany, said that the blame lies with the players. 'Hansi didn't do that much wrong,' he told German broadcaster Ard. 'I'm really disappointed and shocked at how it went. The appearance of the national team is not enough. We invited the opponent. The fundamental problem is that we often invite the opponent.' Herr Flick vehemently disagreed with Schweinsteiger, calling his analysis 'absolute nonsense. There are so many reasons [for Germany's exit], but I am not looking to find excuses,' he added. 'We did not have a lot of time to train, but it is not down to that. We fulfilled our duty today and went off the pitch with a victory, but the result could have been better.' That's Herr Flick, not looking to find excuses, there. Ex-Germany midfielder Sami Khedira was critical of Herr Flick, telling Ard the manager 'got bogged down a bit with the line-up' by playing Bayern München's Joshua Kimmich at right-back instead of central midfield. However, Khedira did back Flick to stay on as Germany manager. 'Kimmich wants to be in the middle and Leon Goretzka is not a connection player - Flick gambled a bit on that,' he said. 'But [Flick] has already proven [his credentials] at Bayern. He's very clear, has a great team and a good game idea. He's strict, but at the same time a people catcher. I'd like Hansi to stay.'
German Football Association president Oberst-Gruppenführer Bernd Neuendorf said that a meeting will be held next week with Flick and technical director Oliver Bierhoff to identify the reasons behind Germany's World Cup failure, while looking ahead to Euro 2024. 'You can imagine that today there is deep disappointment,' said Neuendorf. 'This elimination is extremely painful. But we have to look ahead and so we will lead a process on how to deal with this. I am a strong supporter of clear processes and expect to hold these talks with respect and in private. We are taking the first step before the second step.' Former Germany striker and BBC pundit Jürgen Klinsmann likened the reaction in Germany to that of the English press when England regularly fail at major tournaments. And, again, with the schadenfreude. Which is, very definitely, not up Germany's collective Straßenbahn. 'The next couple of days will be very, very harsh and difficult because it's pretty much the third disappointment in a row,' he added. 'You can imagine if England leave in the group stage, what the media will do in England. It's similar to this in Germany.' Only, you know much, much funnier. Herr Klinsmann, who was a World Cup-winner with Germany in 1990, suggests that their failure to convert chances played a big part in their World Cup exit. No shit? So what Jürgen is, essentially, saying here is if they'd scored more goals, they would've won more matches. Flawless logic, you have to admit. 'That is definitely an on-the-pitch issue, that they didn't utilise the chances against Japan, they should have got the second goal far before Japan got back in the game. They've had a strong performance with Spain,' he said. Vorsprung durch Technik, guys, it's the way forward. Despite the side's disappointing performance in Qatar, Klinsmann added that there is hope for the future - especially in nineteen-year-old Bayern München midfielder Jamal Musiala. 'I think there's a lot of talent in that squad and they haven't found their high years yet,' he said. 'We have one wonder child, there's no doubt about it, in terms of performances in Musiala - he is an exceptional, exceptional player. There is a lot of talent, they can build things fairly quickly towards the Euros.'
A tearful Romelu Lukaku punched the side of the dugout - really hard - and had to be consoled as he sat with his shirt pulled over his head after the goalless draw with Croatia. It was clearly an outpouring of frustration for his role in Belgium's early exit from the World Cup. But perhaps it was also frustration at what feels like an end of an era for Belgium's 'golden generation'. Golden generation? Golden shower, more like. Belgium's failure is merely but the latest disappointment for a talented set of players who have repeatedly underwhelmed when it really mattered on the world stage. Manager Roberto Martinez hugged his players individually at full-time in what he later confirmed was his 'farewell' at the expiry of his contract. During his six years in charge, Martinez has had a squad packed full of superstars such as Sheikh Yer Man City's Kevin de Bruyne, Real Madrid's Eden Hazard and Thibaut Courtois and on-loan Inter Milan striker Lukaku. And yet they never reached a major final despite being ranked world number one from September 2018 to March 2022. Their highest finish was third at the World Cup in 2018. Belgium's starting XI had an average age of thirty one years and ninety five days against Croatia - the oldest for any side at a World Cup since 2010. Is this the end of a golden era for Belgian football? 'No, you've got players like Amadou Onana and Jeremy Doku. The "golden generation" is doing something to bring the next generation on,' claimed Martinez. One or two people even believed him. 'It's not necessarily what happens on the pitch. The legacy can be left in many ways. Now the standards need to carry on rising and the young players need to carry on this line.' Belgium's chance felt like it came in Russia four years ago. After impressively beating Brazil in the quarter-finals, they lost to eventual world champions France in the last four, conceding the only goal from a corner after dominating possession. It was progress from reaching the quarter-finals in 2014 and at the 2016 European Championship. But time was starting to run out last year when Belgium again failed to go beyond the quarter-finals at the delayed Euro 2020 and they headed to Qatar with an ageing squad. De Bruyne and Hazard are now both thirty one, while centre-back pairing Jan Vertonghen and Toby Alderweireld are thirty five and thirty three respectively. De Bruyne said earlier this week the squad was 'too old' to seriously consider winning this World Cup and it led to reports of unrest within the squad. Despite failing to reach the knockout stages, Martinez said 'there was no regrets' and Belgium can 'leave with our heads held high. We wanted to get through but I'm sure the other national teams wanted to get through and that's the tournament,' he told the BBC. 'In the previous World Cup we won three games in the group stage, we wanted to go all the way.' Belgium's tournament never really got going in Qatar. They only won one of their three group matches (and that was a fortunate one-nil victory over Canada who, for large sections of the game appeared the better side), scored just once and lost in a tame performance against eventual group winners Morocco. 'The first few games we were fearful and not the team we are. We listened to noise from outside and felt responsibility. We played thinking we could lose and be out and that's what cost us,' claimed Martinez. 'I felt if we had gone through then we would have seen the real Belgium.'
In a World Cup of numerous surprises, another one came on Friday when Hwang Hee-Chan gave South Korea a sensational injury-time victory over Portugal which meant that they edged out Uruguay to a last-sixteen place on goals scored. Hwang ran onto Son Heung-Min's defence-splitting pass in the ninety first minute to round off a rapid counter attack and start wild celebrations from his side's fans in the stands. South Korea had needed to win to stand any chance of joining Portugal in the knockout stage, but even following the final whistle, their progress was not secured. On the pitch and in the stands, players and supporters watched the final moments of Uruguay's game with Ghana, knowing another goal for the South American side would send them out. When that two-nil win was confirmed, a huge roar went around Education City Stadium, and South Korea were able to start the party for real. Meanwhile, there was a geet rive-on at the Al Janoub Stadium where the Uruguayans were getting all stroppy and discombobulated after the German referee, Herr Siebert, didn't award a late penalty for what appeared to be a foul on Edison Cavani. Television pictures focused on a blubbing-like-a-girl Luis Suárez sitting, disconsolately, on the bench having earlier been substituted. So, that was worth the licence fee all on its own.
