LUIS ENRIQUE spent his pre-match press conference talking about permutations.<br /><br />Instead, his team left him with serious heart palpitations as Japan sprung yet another stunning World Cup upset to top Group E – and almost dump Spain OUT in the process.<br /><br />A relaxed Enrique admitted pre-match he had considered tactically trying to finish second in this group, in order to avoid Brazil and secure an “easier” route to the final.<br /><br />It ended up that way by accident, but it looked as though those plans had been tossed in the bin with a fine first half performance to leave the football purist drooling.<br /><br />Complete domination is an understatement. The Spaniards trotted down the tunnel at the break with 83 per cent possession and 562 passes, compared to 127 for their weary opponents.<br /><br />Japan – evidenced by their opening day comeback to beat Germany 2-1 – are no mugs, yet they did not get a sniff, made to look like a bog-standard Tokyo Sunday league mob.<br /><br />Chuck in an 11th minute header from Alvaro Morata and things were looking more than rosy for Spain. They were turning on the style while still conserving their energy.<br /><br />Croatia awaited in the Last 16, with a potential quarter against Brazil on the cards. Confidence was sky high. Sorted.<br /><br />What Enrique did not envisage was yet another team talk of a lifetime – as well as two inspired substitutions – from Blue Samurai coach Hajime Moriyasu.<br /><br />It was one that almost cost Spain a knock-out spot here in Qatar.<br /><br />For a brief moment as Costa Rica took the lead against Germany in the 70th minute, they were out, only to sneak back in to second almost instantly. Phew.<br /><br />The shyest of characters, you could lose Moriyasu in an elevator, but put him in a dressing room with a team under the cosh and he does the business time after time.<br /><br />On came Ritsu Doan and Kaoru Mitoma. By the 48th minute, they were level. By the 51st minute, they were ahead – the latter by the barest of margins.<br /><br />Against the Germans, it took Doan until the 75th minute to equalize, yet he wasted no time here, cutting inside from a poor Unai Simon pass out from the back and firing goalwards.<br /><br />Simon will be disappointed, getting a firm hand to it. The Japanese were ecstatic.<br /><br />The Spanish sections of the Khalifa International Stadium were so confident of a win during the first half death by a gazillion passes, they were organizing a Mexican wave.<br /><br />But bums were firmly on seats as Japan sparked another attack. Doan involved again, firing a ball across the six-yard box and Mitoma snuck it back for Ao Tanaka to tap in.<br /><br />Replays at first showed the ball for Mitoma had drifted out for a goal kick, only for another angle to highlight it had stayed in by a half a whisker.<br /><br />VAR deliberated for an agonizing two minutes before awarding the goal. Cue pandemonium.<br /><br />With Spain lacking a clinical edge to break down a now determined Japanese defensive outfit, attention turned to the other game as Costa Rica went ahead.<br /><br />If anything, the Germans did Enrique and his nervy boys a re
