JAPAN PULL OFF WORLD CUP SHOCK

… score late to beat four-time champions Germany

JAPAN stunned Germany 2-1 in their World Cup opener yesterday, punishing the fourtime champions for not taking their chances after they dominated the first half.

The German team covered their mouths for the team photo before the match in a powerful protest against FIFA's decision to ban rainbow-themed armbands.

Germany came to Qatar under huge pressure to avoid the disaster of 2018 when they failed to make it out of the group stage in Russia as World Cup holders.

Hansi Flick's side took the lead through a first-half penalty from Ilkay Gundogan and should have been out of sight after creating a host of chances.

But Japan hung on and equalised through substitute Ritsu Doan in the 75th minute.

Takuma Asano then completed a remarkable turnaround eight minutes later, smashing the ball home to send the Japanese bench and their boisterous fans wild.

To add to the storyline, both Doan and Asano play in the German Bundesliga.

"The players came together as one team, we prepared well, and we stuck in there, and that's what led to the win," said Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu.

"Lots of our fans have come to Doha, and they were behind us, pushing us on. I want us to keep a level head after this and look at what we could have done better and look to win the next match."

Germany's World Cup future is now once again on the line, with games to come in Group E against

Spain and Costa Rica.

Meanwhile, Croatia, runners-up four years ago, started their World Cup campaign with a goalless draw against a well-drilled Morocco at Al Bayt Stadium.

Only four players from their final defeat by France in 2018 started this game and they lacked an attacking spark throughout, but came closest through Nikola Vlasic's toe-poked effort.

Morocco were impressive, but failed to create clear-cut opportunities. – AFP/BBC.