sport news Japan break record for lowest possession recorded by a winning side at World ... trends now
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Japan shocked all in beating Germany and Spain to reach the last-16 of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar - and the stats have laid bare the remarkable nature of their achievement.
Hajime Moriyasu's side upset the odds in beating the two football giants - with five World Cups between them - to finish top of Group E and set up a seemingly winnable last-16 tie with Croatia.
Key to their success was their ability to sit deep, made viable by their impressive backline, and hit the over-exposed sides on the break.
Japan were forced - as they did against Germany - to sit in for large periods and contain
Spain enjoyed lots of the ball and could have wrapped the game up by the break but Japan rode their luck and emerged victorious
Indeed, such was the players' ability to carry out their coach's instructions, Japan broke the record for the lowest amount of possession held by a winning team in any World Cup fixture since 1966.
Their 18 per cent possession of Spain outstripped South Korea's 26 per cent against Germany in 2018 and their own 27 per cent against the same opposition in their Group E opener.
Forced to sit back and contain Spain for much of the first half, Japan trailed at the break thanks to a header from Alvaro
