Japan surprises Germany

Published on : 23/11/2022 – 15:59

Germany entered the 2022 World Cup by losing to Japan (1-0) on Wednesday November 23 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha (Qatar). Before the start of the game, the German players made a gag gesture by putting a hand over their mouth for the official photo. A way to respond to the threats of sanctions brandished by Fifa to prevent the wearing of the inclusive armband during the World Cup-2022.

On the field, the two teams started the match in 4-2-3-1 with rhythm, without giving chances in the first minutes. Then, on an acceleration of Ito, right side, which sends a precise center in the German surface, Japan believes to open the score… but Maeda is signaled offside (8^e). Despite this heat stroke, it is Germany who have their foot on the ball, with a game of possession and precise transmissions. But this domination proves sterile during the first quarter of an hour of the match.

The solution may come from a set piece, but Rüdiger sends his header to the side of the Japanese goalkeeper’s frame (17^e). The Germans then employed themselves differently and sometimes accelerated the game, as when Kimmich appeared at the entrance to the Japanese surface to strike at the conclusion of a rapid movement, but Gonda deflected the ball (20^e). The Mannschaft do not let go of their grip on the ball (75% possession during this first half hour), multiplying the passes with a touch of the ball, until creating shifts which allow them clear chances like on the strike of Gündogan (27^e) or that other shot blocked by a Japanese defender in his penalty area (28^e).

Japan can no longer get out of its thirty meters and ends up cracking on an opening from Kimmich for Raum. The Japanese goalkeeper misses his exit on the German player and causes a penalty, converted by Gündogan (1-0, 33^e). Germany leads logically on the scoreboard after an unchallenged domination during the start of the match.

The German team did not release the pressure during the last minutes of the first half, allowing a new strike from Kimmich at the entrance to the Japanese area – ultimately without danger (42^e). Musiala also tries a shot after a good series of dribbles, but the ball escapes the target (45^e). Germany want to drive the point home and believe they can achieve it on a shot from Gnabry deflected into the Japanese goal by Havertz (45^e+3)… but the VAR signals an offside. In the process, Maeda tries a header in the German area (45^e+6). The two teams finally return to the locker room with this score of 1-0.

Japan overturn the game in ten minutes

Germany returns to the match with the same intentions as in the first period. Müller shifts Gnabry, whose shot ends on the crossbar of the Japanese cage (47^e). Japan tries to react to this deflected shot from Kamada (49^e) but Germany seems too strong. In the process, Musiala enters the Japanese area and reviews the entire opposing defense, before hitting just above the cage (51^e). We may have missed one of the best goals at the start of the 2022 World Cup.

Japan does not resign itself to suffer when it is only one goal behind, but it lacks precision on a header that flees the German frame (58^e). Germany resumed their forward march: Musiala shifted Gündogan in the middle, but the latter’s shot ended up on the post of the Japanese goalkeeper (60^e). Japan responds with a header from a corner but the German defense resists (66^e). Asano then presents himself against Neuer, but Rüdiger narrowly deflects for a corner (68^e). Despite the clear German domination in this match, the fate of the match is not sealed twenty minutes from the end of regulation time.

Then it’s a new heat stroke in the Japanese surface (71^e): Gnabry believes to score the second German goal, but it is without counting on a double save from Gonda. In the aftermath, it was Japan who thought they could come back to score on a strike from Ito in the German box… Manuel Neuer, for his first save of the match, had a firm hand and maintained his team’s lead ( 73^e). The Mannschaft falters, and ends up cracking two minutes later: on a Japanese cross, Doan takes over with his foot from the penalty spot and shakes the German nets (1-1, 75^e).

Ten minutes from the end, the match is restarted. Germany, despite several chances, failed to score a second goal while Japan never resigned themselves to defeat. Better: the Japanese can believe in victory after Minamino’s victorious race, which comes to lodge the leather under the crossbar of Neuer in a tight angle (1-2, 83^e). Goretzka’s shot off target will do nothing (90^e+4): as four years ago against Mexico, Germany misses its entry into the World Cup and bows this time to Japanese realism.