Mexico City: Former Mexico player, Hugo Sanchez, has claimed that Spain lost the match against Japan on purpose to avoid facing Brazil in the quarter-finals of the World Cup. Sanchez also said Spain coach Lui N Rieke knows the best way to avoid playing against Brazil in the quarter-finals.
But Spain coach Lui N Rieke denied such accusations. He explained that they did not want to finish second in the group and that they were trying to be first. Japan and Costa Rica would come out to score with 15 seconds remaining to break the scoreless tie. Or when Germany are 5-0 up and we’re trying to equalize and Japan score and we’re out. So he tried no such gamble, he said.
Earlier, Japan progressed to the pre-quarters after defeating former champions Spain 2-1 in Group E. The Asian powers progress as GRAP champions with six points from 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 team with the best goal average. Japan will face Croatia and Spain will face Morocco in the pre-quarters.
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