Germany fans convinced World Cup is fixed as iffy Japan goal knocks them out
Germany fans are convinced that the World Cup is "fixed" after Japan's goal was given despite the ball going out of play.
Two goals in three minutes at the start of the second half from Ritsu Doan and Ao Tanaka saw Japan turn the game on it's head and take the lead against Spain. As a result, the Samurai Blue leapfrogged their opponents to climb to the top of group E and leave four-time winners Germany on the brink of elimination at the group stage.
However, fans were quick to claim the goal should not have stood, despite a lengthy VAR review deeming that the ball had stayed in play.
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After the goal was awarded, one supporter tweeted: "This is a fixed match." Another went on to add: "THIS WORLD CUP IS SO FIXED."
A third fan also commented: "Game between Spain and Japan is fixed to eliminate Germany from World Cup knockout stages."
Replays of the incident had appeared to show that the whole of the ball had crossed the line, before it was confirmed on commentary that the side of the ball had been hanging above the line still when it was cut back for Tanaka.
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Japan taking the lead meant that Germany would be out unless they could overcome Spain's superior goal difference, which had been boosted by a 7-0 win over Costa Rica in their opening match.
That challenge became even harder for Hansi Flick's side moments later as Yeltsin Tejeda cancelled out Serge Gnabry's opener to level the score.
Things later went from bad to worse for Germany after Juan Pablo Vargas put Costa Rica in front, which momentarily took them above Spain.
However, Kai Havertz equalised just minutes later as the complexion of the group continued to change. That strike was then followed by goals from Havertz and Niclas Fullkrug, which pulled them level with Spain in the table but behind on goal difference.
Germany were also knocked out in the opening stage of the previous World Cup, with their defence of the trophy producing just one win as they finished bottom of their group in Russia.
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