The winning goal by Japan against Spain has finally been supported by FIFA with tangible evidence.

Following Japan's incredible second-half comeback against Spain last night, four-time champions Germany were sent crashing to an embarrassing group stage exit for the second consecutive World Cup.

After Ao Tanaka's game-winning goal gave Japan an unlikely victory, Germany's 4-2 victory over Costa Rica was effectively rendered meaningless.

Kaoru Mitoma's incredible and ultimately successful attempt to keep the ball in play paid off for the Japan forward, despite the fact that initial replays appeared to show the ball had crossed the byline.

The world governing body has now produced images and videos of the angles they used to determine that a goal should have been awarded, defending the VAR who ordered that the on-field decision be overturned. This process took nearly 24 hours.

Former Premier League referee Peter Walton argued that the governing body would have used technology not available to TV companies to reach their decision. The contentious decision, coupled with FIFA withholding the pivotal images, has sparked a variety of conspiracy theories.

"I’m seeing the same angles as you; there’s a misconception in law that just because the part of the ball that is on the floor is over the line, it's out—well, it clearly isn’t because it’s the curve of the ball,” Walton said.

"We see it often with corner kicks where it’s over the line but not quite over the line." In this instance, what the VAR is looking for is evidence to suggest to the referee that the ball has clearly left the field of play, and based on the evidence that we’re seeing, he doesn’t have that in front of him.

"What I would suggest is the goal line technology; those cameras are being used for VAR to discover whether the ball has left the field of play, so there are angles that will show that." If, however, a player’s boot or shin has gone over the top of the ball and the VAR can’t see it clearly, it will say to the referee, "I don’t have that evidence to give you, Mr Referee; stay with your on-field decision."

‘We’ll see what pictures FIFA show us but the law is specific, the ball is still in play if the curvature of the ball breaks that line – do we have that evidence to show?’

ITV pundits Graeme Souness and Gary Neville were left fuming with the lack of definitive imagery proving the ball had remained in play, an issue that also perplexed Walton.

"Well, that is very peculiar because at the start of this tournament, offside decisions were supposed to be shown automatically to the stadium so the people in the stadium could see them. That technology is still available for the people in the stadium."

"I’m at a loss why they haven’t shown it yet; they’ve got their reasons, and only time will tell." I do think the evidence will appear sooner or later whether that ball hasn’t crossed the line.’