Samurai spirit beats Germany
After Saudi Arabia stun Argentina, Japan beat 4-time winners Germany in another comeback by Asians
NEW DELHI: The match started with a statement from Germany-their players covered their mouths with their hands in the group photo to protest not being able to wear the One Love arm band. But it was Japan who ended the match with the kind of statement that would have set the proverbial cat among the pigeons in Group E of the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar.
Goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan (75’) and Takuma Asano (83’) helped the Blue Samurai beat the mighty Germans 2-1 and record what will arguably go down as their most famous win. Japan had never won a World Cup match after conceding the first goal but they have now.
After a classic game of two halves, the German players stood in the middle of the pitch in a daze. They didn’t quite know what had hit them. On successive days, we have seen Argentina and Germany, two of the powerhouses of world football, lose to Asian teams. Both losers failed to score from open play. As things stand, throw all predictions out of the window for anything is possible in this World Cup.
When the match started, it didn’t look like the Japanese would have any chance in the game. Germany controlled the possession (nearly 80%) and that meant if they just kept at it, the chances would come.
And they did. In the 20th minute, we saw the first proper shot from Germany. Joshua Kimmich let loose a powerful shot from the edge of the D. It was at a good height and Japanese goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda parried it away easily.
There was another shot from Gundogan in the 28th minute. It was low and was kept out again. In the 29th minute, another shot-Gundogan denied again, first by the goalkeeper and then Yoshida coming up with a huge block. The pressure was clearly ramping up. And then Gonda conceded a penalty with a clumsy challenge on David Raum. He didn’t make contact with his first challenge but then lunged again to give Germany what they wanted and Gundogan came up with an icecool finish from the spot to put the four-time champions ahead 1-0. That made it 51 games without a goalless draw for Germany in the World Cup--a tournament record. Germany almost went ahead again just before the second half but Kai Havertz, who tapped in, was ruled off-side.
In the dying seconds of the first half, Japan went close to levelling scores when Maeda’s header, intended for the top right, went inches wide.
Despite that, the first half had been all Germany--79% possession and almost all the chances too. The Japanese had failed to get a single shot off on target.
A one-goal lead, as we are finding out in this World Cup, is nothing much but you would have had to go back to 1978 to find a match that Germany lost after leading at half-time. The signs weren’t good but Japan didn’t have an option--they had to keep running at the Germans and they did. With Gundogan pulling the strings, Germany stayed in control. Jamal Musiala, in the 51st minute, glided past four Japanese players but then sent his final shot over the bar.
Japan made a double change, with coach Hajime Moriyasu bringing on Kaoru Mitoma and Asano in the 57th minute. From that point on, something just clicked into place for the Asian team. They started going forward a lot more and Germany just seemed to lose momentum. Perhaps they became a little complacent too.
Then, in the 60th minute, Gundogan’s shot kissed the post on the way out. He went for placement and had the keeper beaten but Japan survived and little did all those watching know how the game would change from that point on. Then, Japan made another change, bringing on Ritsu Doan in the 71st minute and just four minutes and nine seconds after he came on, he finished with aplomb to bring his team back level. By this point, Germany were back-pedaling. Their early domination meant little and they were just trying to keep the surging Japanese at bay.
It didn’t work though. Asano trapped a long ball, on the right, off a free-kick from deep in the Japanese half. He had a lovely first touch and then showed great strength to fight off Nico Schlotterbeck before beating Manuel Neuer at the near post. The forward ran off towards the stands and was joined by the entire Japanese bench. The scenes in the stands were just as mad.
Japanese football has evolved over the last 20 years with the advent of the J League and there is a South American influence in their play that is clear to see. But this result showed the power of belief and will serve to inspire many a generation.
For Germany, though, the situation is now grim. If Spain beat them on Sunday evening, they’ll be in big trouble and in danger of their second consecutive early exit. In 2018, they had lost to South Korea.
The result when they met the last time, in November 2020? Spain 6-0 Germany.
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