Qatar 2022: Japan stuns Germany 2-1 as Onelove armband row outshines football
.... Croatia held to goalless draw by Morocco
JAPAN came from a goal down on Wednesday to shun Germany 2-1 amid the onelove armband row with FIFA by european nations.
Germany players covered their mouths during the team photograph before their World Cup opener against Japan over FIFA’S non-political statement with the onelove armband.
The gesture follows FIFA threatening players with a booking for wearing the onelove armband during games in Qatar.
The Germany, Japan group e face off was played at the Khalifa International Stadium, in the city of al rayyan.
Germany took the lead in the 33 minutes through a penalty by likay Gundogan.
Similarly, Germany’s Kai havertz goal was disallowed by Var deep into extra time 45+4.
however, Japan came back into the second half with more fighting spirit.
With 15 minutes left in the game ritsu Doan equalise for Japan against Germany 75 minutes into the second half.
however, 8minutes after
Japan created another offset in the ongoing world cup as Takuma asano gave Japan the winner on 83 minutes with an assist from Ko Itakura.
Similarly, 2018 runnersup Croatia was held to a goalless draw by morocco in the first match of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 day four at the al Bayt Stadium.
The Croatian team only have four players from their final defeat by France in 2018 starting the game.
The team lacked the attacking spark throughout, but came closest through Nikola Vlasic’s toe-poked effort.
morocco on the other hand were impressive through out the game, but failed to create clear-cut opportunities.
Croatia, currently 12th in FIFA’S world rankings, dominated possession as expected, but were unable to break down morocco, who have only lost two of their past 40 games across three years.
The best chance of a match that had only two shots on target from each side came in first-half stoporganisers