Four years ago, Germany failed as world champions for the first time in the group phase, and this fate is now threatening again: One day after Saudi Arabia’s 2-1 win against Argentina, the DFB team struggled into the game, but took control and deservedly went through one Penalty by Ilkay Gündogan in the lead (33rd). After the break, Serge Gnabry and Gündogan found the wood, but Japan came up in finish and turned the game around with Ritsu Doan (75′) and Takuma Asano (83′).
By the way, both Japanese goalscorers earn their money in the German Bundesliga, Doan at SC Freiburg and Asano at VfL Bochum. So Germany is now under heavy pressure on Sunday (8 p.m.) in the group hit against Spain, Japan can add to that against Costa Rica (11 a.m., both live on ORF1).
“Joker” Doan equalizes (75th minute)
Ritsu Doan, who came on as a substitute a few minutes earlier, gives up his right to play. After defending against Neuer, the “Joker” dusts off to 1: 1.
Germany sets signs before kick-off
In terms of sport, the German players have also set themselves the goal of making amends at this tournament after being eliminated in the group phase four years ago. But there’s more to this controversial tournament than just football, as the players demonstrated by covering their mouths before the game. An obvious sign to FIFA, which had banned the “One Love” captaincy loop of Manuel Neuer and six other European team captains in Qatar.
Instead, Neuer wore the “No Discrimination” bandage specified by FIFA in al-Rajjan, which is intended to stand against discrimination of any kind. Football was then also played at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Cheeky Japanese beginning
Against the World Cup-tested Japanese, after all it is their seventh World Cup participation, national coach Hansi Flick relied on Thomas Müller’s routine and Kai Havertz in attack. Leroy Sane had to pass injured for the start, the German hopes are also carried by the only 19-year-old Jamal Musiala. Former Salzburg legionnaire Takumi Minamino initially sat on the bench for Japan.
Maeda scores from offside (8th minute)
Daizen Maeda hits the goal. However, the jubilation is only brief, because the goal does not count because of an offside position.
The underdog in this game didn’t hide at all early on and bothered Germany early on. Winning the ball also resulted in a goal, but it was disallowed due to an offside position. After Gündogan lost the ball, it went to the right and in the center Daizen Maeda pushed the ball over the line (8′).
DFB team successfully increases pressure
As the game progressed, Germany took control, had a lot of possession, but initially had a hard time with the Japanese defence. The first chance came after a set piece, when Antonio Rüdiger headed past a corner from Joshua Kimmich (17′). The pressure increased, Gündogan tried from a distance (28th/29th).
Space for David Raum opened up again and again, especially on the left side, who then used it decisively in the 31st minute. Raum took the ball completely free and was finally brought down by goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda first with his foot and then with his hand (31st). The penalty whistle rightly withstood the scrutiny, and Gündogan safely converted to the lead (33rd).
Gündogan takes the lead with a penalty (33rd minute)
David Raum is brought down by goalie Shuichi Gonda in the penalty area. Ilkay Gündogan confidently converted the penalty due to make it 1-0.
With this behind them, it was easier for the Germans to play, and the favorites also became more and more enthusiastic. However, the Japanese repeatedly forced him to take shots from a distance. Shortly before the half-time break, Havertz scored from a few meters, but was clearly offside when Gnabry played it (45+4). It wasn’t the last action, Maeda headed wide of the goal (45+6).
Germany misses further chances
Immediately after the change of sides, Germany soon tried to bring about a preliminary decision. A shot from Gnabry from an acute angle touched the crossbar on the right (47th). Four minutes later, Musiala showed his class and danced halfway across the Japanese penalty area, but chased the ball over the goal (51′).
Around ten minutes later, the pole prevented the second German goal in al-Rajjan. The lively Musiala was involved again, but this time put it down for Gündogan, whose low shot hit the right post and then went wide (60′). Japan tried to counter in this phase, but finished their attacks inconsistently. And the DFB-Elf simply missed too many chances: Goalie Gonda, who was also under contract for a year with the second division team SV Horn, first fended off Jonas Hofmann and then even more brilliantly when Gnabry had a double chance in the same minute (70 minutes). ).
Germany makes it 2-0 (70th minute)
The Germans want to force the decision. So far, the Japanese can still defend themselves.
Japan turns game in the finish
As is well known, an old footballer’s saying goes: If you don’t score the goals, you get them. And once again it has come true. After around 70 minutes, the Japanese team boss Hajime Moriyasu then brought on Minamino, who brought momentum into the offensive game. First, Neuer fended off Junya Ito with a brilliant save (73′), two minutes later the goalkeeper deflected Minamino’s shot to Ritsu Doan’s feet, who completed the 1-1 (75′).
After the first shock, Germany seemed to recover, but then a blackout followed on the German side, which turned the game completely around: A long free-kick cross from Ko Itakura reached substitute Takuma Asano, also because Nico Schlotterbeck let him go after a positional mistake . Asano drew on the goal and completed it from a tight angle to make it 2-1 (83rd), from which Germany never recovered. “Joker” Leon Goretzka fired a shot just wide of the goal – too late and too little.
Comments on the game:
Hansi Flick (Germany team boss): “That’s brutally disappointing. We deservedly took a 1-0 lead, that was more than deserved. We missed a lot of chances to score. You just have to say: Japan clearly beat us in terms of efficiency. The individual mistakes that we made simply mustn’t happen. We have to build up the players now.”
Hajime Moriyasu (Japan Team Principal): “We knew we had to focus more on defence. That’s why I changed the system. The players knew straight away what I meant and how to behave. We celebrated a great victory, but we keep going. We will prepare for the next game in the same way.”
Manuel Neuer (Germany captain): “It’s a huge disappointment for us, we’re frustrated. It’s hard for me to understand just after the game how we gave it up.”
Ilkay Gundogan (Germany goalscorer): “We made it too easy for Japan. Especially with the second goal, I don’t know if an easier goal has ever been scored at a World Cup, that shouldn’t happen. We had incredible chances up front and didn’t score the second. As the goals fell, that didn’t happen.”
Thomas Müller (Germany striker): “In terms of feeling, we played a good game for a long time. But the effectiveness didn’t match at both ends. It’s hilarious that we’re left with a defeat. In the end, we must clearly blame ourselves for the lack of efficiency. We have to work through that and remain objective.”
FIFA World Cup 2022, Group E, first matchday
Wednesday:
Germany 1-2 Japan (1-0)
Al-Rajjan, Khalifa International Stadium, 42,608 spectators, SR Barton (SLV)
Torfolge:
1: 0 Gündogan (penalty kick/33.)
1:1 Doan (75.)
1:2 Asano (83.)
Deutschland: Neuer – Süle, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum – Kimmich, Gündogan (67./Goretzka) – Gnabry (90./Moukoko), Müller (67./Hofmann), Musiala (79./Götze) – Havertz (79./Füllkrug )
Japan: Gonda – Sakai (75./Minamino), Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo (57./Mitoma) – Endo – J. Ito, Kamada, Tanaka (71./Doan), Kubo (46./Tomiyasu) – Maeda (57. /Asano)
Yellow cards: none