The picture has gone viral on social media. In ESPN's tweet, it is said directly, "Had this ball been ruled out (beyond the spot), Germany would have advanced to the last sixteen."
But it didn't happen. Ao Tanaka's goal in the 51st minute (2-1) lifted Japan to the last sixteen as the group champion. Spain lost to the group's runner-up team and reached the last sixteen, while Germany was eliminated from the group stage of the World Cup for the second time in a row. Germany have never been knocked out of the group stage twice in a row before.
The goal is so much talked about in Germany. The country's media 'Bild' is comparing Tanaka's goal with Geoff Hirst's controversial goal in the 1966 World Cup.
Spain and Japan tied 1-1 in the match. A cross from the right wing crossed the byline past Spain's goal post. Winger Kaoru Mitoma raced in to cross the ball and Tanaka completed the goal with a mere body touch. The on-field referee immediately disallowed the goal.
South African referee Victor Gomez thought the ball had crossed the byline before Mitoma crossed. The video replay seems to be the same. But that's when the referee calls for Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology. Most of the spectators thought that the decision of the field referee would stand. wrong VAR ruled it as a goal! Why? The whole of the ball did not cross the byline (the spot next to the goal post).
In the end, Japan reached the last 16 of the World Cup with 6 points in 3 matches with this goal. If Japan drew the match 1-1 against Spain, the Asian team would have collected 4 points. Then Japan's goal difference would be 0. Germany's 4-2 win over Costa Rica is currently third in Group E. The team has 4 points and +1 goal difference in 3 matches.
That is, if the match between Japan and Spain was drawn 1-1, then Germany and Japan would have equal 4 points. But Germany was the second best team in the group due to the goal difference (+1). As Japan's goal was legal, the team won, and the goal difference was +1.
According to ESPN, Mexico's Fernando Guerrero was in charge of the VAR referee in this match. To rule Japan's second goal as valid, Guerrero had to be 100% sure that at least part of the ball was on the byline mark. Since the ball is round, the ball is on the ground when it crosses the mitoma, and the curvature is seen to see if the ball exits on the byline or not.
The goal line camera is used to make the decision. According to ESPN, a photo taken by a goal-line camera showed that part of the ball was on the byline mark. VAR referee Fernando Guerrero ruled it as a goal after changing the referee's decision on the field.
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