US has no answer for Japan in loss
Japan .......................... 2 United States .............. 0
DUSSELDORF – The United States got their World Cup preparations off to a poor start as they fell to a 2-0 defeat against Japan in Dusseldorf, Germany, in the first of two warm-up games before they travel to Qatar.
Daichi Kamada scored in the 24th minute while Kaoru Mitoma added another late on to leave manager Gregg Berhalter with plenty of issues. His side failed to register a shot on target for the first time in 15 matches.
Berhalter’s team were without their talisman Christian Pulisic after it was announced before kickoff that the Chelsea forward had sustained a knock in training with the national side.
The US face Saudi Arabia in Murcia, Spain, on Tuesday in their final match before Berhalter must submit his 26-man World Cup roster on Nov. 13.
Relaxed
“We need to play with personality,” Berhalter said. “We need to play relaxed. We need to play with intensity. When we do these things, we’re a really good team, but when we don’t, we’re an average team.
“It’s not fair to say that everyone’s on the block here. There’s guys that have a lot of water under the bridge with this team and have played a lot of good games.
Miller fastest in practice
TOKYO – Australia’s Jack Miller went fastest in opening practice for the Japanese Grand Prix yesterday as Moto GP world champion Fabio Quartararo battled pain to go third.
On a damp and humid afternoon at the Motegi circuit, Ducati rider Miller clocked a leading time of one minute and 44.509 seconds.
Players face drop
MADRID – Spain are prepared to play with ‘younger and less experienced players’ after 15 women’s internationals threatened to quit if head Coach Jorge Vilda is not dismissed, the Spanish FA’s women’s football chief Ana Alvarez has said.
A statement signed by the unsettled players and sent by email to the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) on Thursday said they were ‘renouncing’ the national team as the situation was strongly affecting their health and emotional state.
‘I’ll risk reputation’
LONDON – England manager Gareth Southgate said he is willing to put his reputation on the line to back Manchester United defender Harry Maguire, but his place in the squad will become complicated if he continues to sit out games at club level.
Maguire, who helped England reach the Euro 2020 last year, has not started Manchester United’s last four Premier League games. United have won four straight games in the league since Maguire’s last domestic start – a 4-0 defeat at Brentford.
Son’s late free-kick
SEOUL – Son Heung-min scored a late free-kick to secure South Korea’s 2-2 draw against 10-man Costa Rica in their World Cup tune-up match yesterday.
Costa Rica went down a man in the 81st when goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado was sent off for grabbing the ball outside the box to prevent a South Korean opportunity.
Son converted the ensuing free-kick, salvaging a draw for the home team before about 37 000 fans at Goyang Stadium, northwest of Seoul.
“We performed below expectations. We weren’t up to our normal standards. And that’s almost across the board.”
Japan took the lead in the 24th minute after sloppy play from the U.S., with Hidemasa Morita laying off for an unmarked Kamada to slot home. The goal was initially ruled offside but eventually stood after a VAR check. Berhalter introduced a host of substitutes in the second half but they were unable to help the U.S. click into gear, while Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner had to be alert on a to keep Japan from extending their lead. Turner produced a diving save to his left to stop an effort from Kamada in the 65th minute, before tipping over a shot from distance from Ritsu Doan 10 minutes later.