DOHA: In the opening game of the 2022 World Cup, Japan beat 2014 champions Germany to a historic victory.
Takuma Asano receives an excellent long pass and beats Manuel Neuer from a close range. Japan preserved their energy for the latter part of the match and they made the Germans pay for their lapse in concentration
The Japanese Bundesliga players took matters into their own hands and stun 4-Time Champions Germany 2-1 In Group E with an incredible second half comeback. The team surprised the world in the 2022 World Cup by defeating Germany in their Group E opener. Ilkay Gundogan scored from the penalty spot in the 33rd minute before Japan struck back in the second half.
“We have created history today!” Japan fan Kosuke told Al Jazeera, as fellow supporters exited Khalifa International Stadium waving flags.
With the loss, Germany, who were knocked out in the group stages in 2018 as reigning champions, must now fear a second straight early exit.
Kosuke said he didn’t expect his team to beat Germany but now, he added, there was no stopping the Blue Samurai.
“They will be losing their heads back home, and maybe they will get a day off tomorrow, just like Saudi Arabia,” Kosuke said with a grin on his face.
Team details:
Germany: Neuer (GK), Rudiger, Raum, Kimmich, Havertz, Gnabry, Muller, Musiala, Sule, Gundogan, Schlotterbeck.
Japan : Gonda, Sakai (Minamino, 74′), Itakura, Yoshida, Ito, Nagatomo (Mitoma, 57′), Endo, Tanaka (Doan, 71′), Kubo (Tomiyasu, 46′), Kamada, Maeda (Asano, 57′).Al Jazeerah-Telegraph-compiled by Zaida Zaman
