GOBSM ACKED
Germany protest over FIFA call but they are left silenced by Japan after stunning upset
FROM NEIL MOXLEY in Doha
GERMANY’S stars put their hands over their mouths during the team photo before kick-off to make a point.
At the end of 99 high-octane minutes, the footballing world followed suit.
Hansi Flick’s side wanted to make a stand over FIFA’s threats to wearing antidiscrimination armbands.
For everyone else it was a reaction of astonishment.
Few would have predicted Japan enjoying the greatest afternoon in their footballing history as they derailed the four-time world champions.
Deserved? Well, the statistics do not lie.
Germany dominated for large chunks of their Group E opener. But the only stat that truly matters in football is the scoreline. And that would have been especially sweet for boss Hajime Moriyasu (far right, below) and his players because the domestic JLeague has modelled itself on German football.
But yesterday those who the Japanese had placed on a pedestal were knocked off it in the rudest fashion.
And the scenes of delight that greeted the final blast of referee Ivan Barton’s whistle showed the magnitude of the feat.
In scenes reminiscent of the sensational Saudi Arabia triumph against Argentina little more than 24 hours earlier, the substitutes and support staff charged from the dugout to mob those in blue shirts who had given every last ounce of effort to create their slice of history.
In part, that might have been in disbelief at what had unfolded.
For so long, Germany just needed to add to Ilkay Gundogan’s first-half penalty.
In what was his only mistake in the game Japan keeper Shuici Gonda chased down a loose ball and made contact with David Raum. Manchester City’s Gundogan coolly slotted home. With Germany running riot down Japan’s right, they simply could not pick up Thomas Muller or Jamal Musiala. And it seemed a matter of when, not if, a second would arrive. But it did not and the Samurai Blue adjusted their
shape at the break . It did not stem the flow of chances, but with Gonda making eight saves to thwart the 25 attempts on goal Flick’s men mustered, they remained in the game.
The 75th-minute leveller was fashioned out of the Premier League. Brighton’s Kaoru Mitoma came in from the right, former Liverpool ace Takumi Minamino darted in behind and squared.
German keeper Manuel Neuer palmed it out and then sub Ritsu Doan thumped home (below, centre). The Khalifa Stadium erupted.
Kou Itakura fired a free-kick forward. Takuma Asano was on it in a flash, bringing it down beautifully, holding off Nico Schlotterbeck before thumping home (below, left) – although skipper Neuer (circled left) did not cover himself in glory.
It forced a response. But Germany could not find a way through.
Just like in Russia four years ago when their campaign finished at the group stage amid recriminations, they now have it all to do.
Flick (left) said: “We have made mistakes you should never make in a World Cup. We must improve. “We have to defend better, we have to get pressure on the ball in the final third. With this defeat and no points, we’re under pressure. We can only blame ourselves. We need to be courageous.”