Hansi Flick’s facet took the lead by a first-half penalty from Ilkay Gundogan and will have been out of sight after creating a number of probabilities.
Japan gamers have fun their win over Germany in their Fifa World Cup Group E match on the Khalifa International Stadium in Qatar on 23 November 2022. Picture: @FIFAWorldCup/Twitter
DOHA – Japan shocked Germany 2-1 in their World Cup opener on Wednesday, punishing the four-time champions for not taking their probabilities after they dominated the primary half.
The German staff lined their mouths for the staff picture earlier than the match in a strong protest in opposition to FIFA’s determination to ban rainbow-themed armbands.
Germany got here to Qatar underneath big strain to keep away from the catastrophe of 2018, after they did not make it out of the group stage in Russia as World Cup holders.
Hansi Flick’s facet took the lead by a first-half penalty from Ilkay Gundogan and will have been out of sight after creating a number of probabilities.
But Japan held on and equalised by substitute Ritsu Doan in the seventy fifth minute.
Takuma Asano then accomplished a outstanding turnaround eight minutes later, smashing the ball dwelling to ship the Japanese bench and their boisterous followers wild.
To add to the storyline, each Doan and Asano play in the German Bundesliga.
“The players came together as one team, we prepared well and we stuck in there, and that’s what led to the win,” stated Japan supervisor Hajime Moriyasu.
“Lots of our fans have come to Doha and they were behind us pushing us on. I want us to keep a level head after this and look at what we could have done better and look to win the next match.”
Germany’s World Cup future is now as soon as once more on the road, with video games to return in Group E in opposition to Spain and Costa Rica.
“We made it too easy for Japan. I don’t know if an easier goal has ever been scored at a World Cup,” Gundogan instructed Germany’s ARD TV community.
“This must not happen to us.”
Thomas Mueller instructed Germany’s Magenta TV it was “ludicrous that we are now standing here with a defeat.”
Japan in the meantime are eyeing a spot in the knockout spherical after a dramatic comeback that scarcely seemed doable at half-time.
The Blue Samurai made a constructive begin, with Daizen Maeda placing the ball in the online as early because the eighth minute just for the linesman to flag for offside.
GERMAN CHANCES
But it was to show a false daybreak for Japan as Antonio Ruediger headed previous the put up from a nook, earlier than Joshua Kimmich examined goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda, with Gundogan blasting the rebound over the bar.
Gundogan peppered the Japan purpose with photographs, with Gonda conserving him out earlier than Maya Yoshida threw his physique in the best way of one other effort.
Gundogan put the Germans forward after they had been awarded a penalty when Gonda tripped David Raum, coolly slotting his kick down the center.
Jamal Musiala give a glimpse of his immense expertise when he turned and flashed a shot over the bar on the stroke of half-time.
Kai Havertz had the ball in the online earlier than the interval, just for VAR to rule the purpose out for offside.
Musiala returned to torment Japan after the break, skipping by the defence earlier than blazing over.
The 19-year-old then turned supplier, laying the ball off for Gundogan to lash in opposition to the put up.
Japan introduced on livewire forwards Asano and Kaoru Mitoma to attempt to inject some power into the four-times Asian champions.
But Germany stored up their strain and solely a string of last-ditch saves from Gonda prevented Japan from falling additional behind.
Hiroki Sakai had a golden probability to equalise however blazed wildly over the bar after Manuel Neuer had parried the ball into his path.
Doan confirmed him the way it was achieved simply minutes later, changing after Neuer had palmed away Takumi Minamino’s effort.
Asano then put the Japanese followers in dreamland, racing away earlier than lashing dwelling a shot that Neuer was powerless to cease.
Germany threw everybody ahead in a determined seek for an equaliser but it surely was too little, too late.
“It wasn’t just the players who started the game but also the substitutes who came on and helped us close it out,” stated Moriyasu.
“We were able to show our strength. The players did what they needed to get the win.”