[newguy]

Wild day at the WC today.
First, Morocco won Group F, against all expectations, with Croatia (a finalist in the previous WC) coming in 2nd. But Morocco played well and deserved to win its Group.
The last matches in Group E were Japan-Spain and Germany-Costa Rica, with all four teams alive. There were 7 goals combined scored in the second halves of the two games and, depending on whether the scores at a particular moment held up, the teams projected to go through were be Germany & Spain, then Japan & Spain, then Costa Rica and Spain, and, in the end, it was Japan and Spain.
For Spain, ironically, its 1-2 loss to Japan was the best possible result, better than either a win or a tie. (a) By finishing 2nd in Group E, its next opponent is Morocco instead of Croatia, as most would still regard Croatia as the tougher foe. Had Spain won its group, it would play Croatia. (b) The loss eliminated Germany on goal differential, meaning that Spain doesn't have to worry about meeting Germany again in a later knock-out match, if both make it that far. (A tie or win would have advanced Germany at the expense of Japan.)
For Germany, the failure to advance to the knockout rounds for the second WC in a row was, in the words of one of its players, an "absolute catastrophe." The press will be savage.

There are certain online bulletin boards that are going absolutely bonkers over Japan's win.  They emerged from what was arguably the Group of Death.  

Beating both Spain and Germany in the World Cup is an brobdingnagian accomplishment.  And they came from behind in both of those games, which is no easy task.

[newguy]

Wild day at the WC today.
First, Morocco won Group F, against all expectations, with Croatia (a finalist in the previous WC) coming in 2nd. But Morocco played well and deserved to win its Group.
The last matches in Group E were Japan-Spain and Germany-Costa Rica, with all four teams alive. There were 7 goals combined scored in the second halves of the two games and, depending on whether the scores at a particular moment held up, the teams projected to go through were be Germany & Spain, then Japan & Spain, then Costa Rica and Spain, and, in the end, it was Japan and Spain.
For Spain, ironically, its 1-2 loss to Japan was the best possible result, better than either a win or a tie. (a) By finishing 2nd in Group E, its next opponent is Morocco instead of Croatia, as most would still regard Croatia as the tougher foe. Had Spain won its group, it would play Croatia. (b) The loss eliminated Germany on goal differential, meaning that Spain doesn't have to worry about meeting Germany again in a later knock-out match, if both make it that far. (A tie or win would have advanced Germany at the expense of Japan.)
For Germany, the failure to advance to the knockout rounds for the second WC in a row was, in the words of one of its players, an "absolute catastrophe." The press will be savage.

There are certain online bulletin boards that are going absolutely bonkers over Japan's win.  They emerged from what was arguably the Group of Death.  

Beating both Spain and Germany in the World Cup is an brobdingnagian accomplishment.  And they came from behind in both of those games, which is no easy task.