Mith a more than clear declaration of war against the current World Cup runners-up Croatia, Canada’s national coach John Herdman caused a stir. After the extremely unfortunate 1-0 draw against Belgium on Wednesday, the coach had his players ready for the next game against Luke Modric and Co. sworn in. He chose the words “Fuck Croatia”.
“I just showed them the stats. I showed them they belonged here. And that we now go on and fuck Croatia. That’s our next mission,” the coach confirmed afterwards in a TV interview. Canada were the better team against the big favorites, but missed the best chances, including a penalty.
Kanadas Trainer John Herdman
Which: REUTERS
Herdman’s spell was not well received in the Croatian camp. “Each of us chooses our own communication style. The gentleman put it like that, I don’t know how nice and fine that is, but it’s his right. We won’t look back on it. We have to show on the field that we’re a better team,” said national coach Zlatko Dalic on Thursday.
11:19 a.m .: DFB President speaks of tension
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf sees a “certain tension” in the team after the German team’s opening defeat against Japan. “It’s a bit like a little hangover you have,” he said on ARD. The pressure is extremely high now. “We have to get at least a draw against Spain. And there’s a certain tension in the team,” emphasized Neuendorf. “The disappointment was palpable yesterday.”
However, you shouldn’t badmouth everything now, says the DFB President. The team was clearly the better team at 1:2 over long stretches in the first half until the middle of the second half. The chances needed to win the game were there.
10:42 a.m .: Sané back in training
The national team can hope for Leroy Sané again in the second group game against Spain on Sunday. “Leroy is on the pitch and training for himself. That’s positive,” reported national coach Hansi Flick. The 26-year-old offensive player from FC Bayern Munich had missed against Japan with knee problems. Flick had regretted this in advance because Sané “is a difference player and can turn a game on his own with his qualities”.
10:10 a.m .: Japan has an otter as a World Cup oracle. And he was right
A river otter named Taiyo is celebrated in Japan after the sensational victory over Germany at the World Cup in Qatar. Taiyo, who lives in Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa in Tokyo, had predicted a shock victory for Japan against Germany. The eight-year-old male did this by placing a miniature soccer ball in a blue bucket with the Japanese flag on it the day before. Taiyo ignored the red bucket with the German flag and a yellow one that said “Draw.”
River otter Taiyo at work
Source: dpa/Uncredited
Delighted by Japan’s 2-1 win, Japanese football fans raved about the otter online, calling him “amazing” and “extremely competent”. Others were hoping he would make a prediction for Japan’s next group game against Costa Rica on Sunday.
9:49 a.m .: Spain celebrates – “In Germany they call for help”
After the historic 7-0 win against Costa Rica at the start of the World Cup, Spain want to quickly switch to the group hit against the DFB selection on Sunday. “Tomorrow we will be the first to train to prepare for the game against Germany,” announced the coach Luis Enrique and got philosophical: “Praise weakens, we know that. But we won’t fall for it. We must not forget that we are playing Germany in the next game and Germany must win.”
Spain warms up for Germany with a seven-goal gala – the highlights in the video
The Spanish national team celebrate an impressive runaway victory against Costa Rica. Dani Olmo opens the scoring of the next German group opponent worth seeing. The highlights in the video.
With the highest World Cup victory in their own football history, the 2010 world champion goes into a duel with the title winner from 2014. The Spanish media raved about the splendid performance of the three-time European champion with his outstanding Barcelona young stars Gavi, just 18, and Pedri , who turns 20 on Friday. “Historical presentation” headlined “Marca”. “Spanish symphony” was the comment on “Mundo Deportivo”. The portal tweeted immediately after the final whistle: “In Germany, call for help.”
The media also reported on the visit of the Spanish king to the dressing room. “I’ve never experienced a game like this with a result like this. The result is important, but watching the Selección play like this was a real treat,” said Felipe VI. therefore.
9:13 a.m .: Historically poor TV ratings
Under ten million Germans watched the game between Germany and Japan on ARD. All numbers here:
8:46 a.m .: “World shocked”: Japan’s media celebrate
Japan’s spectacular 2-1 win over Germany in the opening match sparked spontaneous celebrations on the streets of Tokyo. After the final whistle, which blew at midnight in the 2-1 (0-1) victory Japanese time, fans and enthusiasts met with flags and golden World Cup trophies in the metropolis and celebrated one of Japan’s biggest surprise coups in the popular Shibuya nightlife district footballers have succeeded so far.
Germany’s opening debacle against Japan – the highlights in the video
The German national team made a fool of themselves at the start of the World Cup against Japan. Despite the opening goal and numerous chances, Germany gave the game completely out of hand in just eight minutes. The highlights in the video.
And the local media were also enthusiastic. “Japan shocked the world,” said the sports portal Nikkansport after the success that the jokers Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano had shot out in Al-Rajjan on Wednesday.
The Kyodo news agency wrote of a “shocking defeat” for the 2014 world champion at the hands of the two substitutes brought on by coach Hajime Moriyasu in the second half. Japan could already make it through to the round of 16 against Costa Rica on Sunday (11 a.m. / ZDF and MagentaTV).
8:12 a.m .: Four games are played in Qatar today
Switzerland – Cameroon (11.00 a.m. / MagentaTV)
Uruguay – South Korea (2 p.m. / ZDF and MagentaTV)
Portugal – Ghana (5 p.m. / ZDF and MagentaTV)
Brazil – Serbia (8 p.m./ZDF and MagentaTV)
7:34 a.m .: Jürgen Kohler still believes in the DFB team
Former world champion Jürgen Kohler has not yet given up hope for the German team after losing the opening match against Japan. “On the one hand, Germany’s false start caused disillusionment. On the other hand, I refuse to write our team off just yet. Maybe the strength and enthusiasm of the Spaniards will suit us a bit,” Kohler wrote in a column for “Kicker”: “I expect an open game on Sunday because Spain won’t hide. Which in turn should give Hansi Flick’s team room for their own offensive actions.”
The Spaniards’ 7-0 start against Costa Rica was, according to the former defender of Borussia Dortmund and FC Bayern Munich, who became world champions in Italy in 1990, “the best performance by a team at this World Cup up to that point”. Japan, on the other hand, would have had 20 strong minutes “to bring down the DFB selection”. It should now be clear to everyone involved “that a real show of strength will be required in the direct duel next Sunday.”
7:03 am: The leader that Germany is missing
Spain dismantled Costa Rica at the start with a historically high 7-0. This is also due to a man:
