World Cup PROOF the ball didn't go over the line for Japan's controversial goal against Spain

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New angles have removed any doubts that the ball didn't cross the line before Japan's game-winning goal against Spain on Thursday night. Ao Tanaka's controversial strike completed a sensational turnaround at Khalifa International Stadium, sending Japan as Group E winners and Germany home in third.

It had the makings of a routine World Cup night, a somewhat welcome chill after the Group F madness earlier in the day. Morocco finished top after beating Canada 2-1, and Belgium crashed out with a 0-0 draw against Croatia after a superb display of waste from Romelu Lukaku.

But Japan, as the 2022 World Cup tended, upset the bookies with two goals less than three minutes apart to turn the game around. But Samurai Blue's second caused a major rift among the viewers, with TV cameras appearing to show the ball going out of play before Kaoru Mitomo's cross assist.

After the assistant denied the go-ahead, VAR overturned the decision, giving Japan the goal and breaking the landscape of Group E. And new footage has surfaced on social media that proves the tech had reason to do so, despite the mass criticism that followed.

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While most of the ball has left the pitch, the most minor bend remains at the line, classifying it as still in play. FIFA rules state that the ball has only left the pitch. 'once it has crossed the contour and sidelines in its entirety.

Although his side reached the round of 16, arguably with a more favorable draw than if they had won the group, Spain coach Luis Enrique was unhappy with the decision on the goal after the full-time. The 52-year-old had probably only seen the TV cameras which made it look like the ball had crossed the line, saying he thought the image he saw had been 'tampered with'. /p>

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He said: "I saw a photo that must have been faked. There is no way this photo is real. It must be manipulated. I sensed something fishy was going on when the VAR took as long as he did to decide... I have nothing to say. Fortunately, the team only collapses once every four years. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to cope."

Spain face Morocco in the round of 16, and Japan are tasked with eliminating 2018 runners-up Croatia. While it was a cruel way for Germany to suffer an early elimination, they cannot there can be no question that the decisive objective of the Asian nation has been correctly achieved.

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