Japan takes first place in the group. Spain is second because its goal difference is better than Germany’s. You can see the bracket for the knockout round here.
Japan edged Spain on the field and in the group standings on Thursday night to cap another tense night of eliminations at the World Cup.
Scoring twice just after halftime and then defending for its World Cup lives for the rest of the night, Japan beat Spain, 2-1, and emerged from a taut night packed with goals in a place that hardly seemed possible: atop its group.