ABSTRACT

World Cup 2022: Japan overthrows Germany and offers itself a prestigious success

First trailing 0-1, the Japanese overthrew Germany to win 2-1, Wednesday November 23, 2022. AP - Ricardo Mazalan

Text by: Nicolas Bamba Follow

3 mins

The day after Saudi Arabia's surprise victory against Argentina, another tenor of world football fell on Wednesday 23 November.

Germany led in the score before seeing Japan come back to score and then take the lead in the last quarter of an hour (2-1).

The Nationalmannschaft begins its World Cup with a big hiccup.

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The “big ones” have been warned: in Qatar, beware of the “little ones”!

On Tuesday,

against Saudi Arabia (2-1).

This Wednesday, November 23, the day after the Saudi sensation, it is Germany's turn to experience enormous disillusion.

For Japan, on the contrary, it is a great day.

The one where the Samourai Blue scalped a four-time world champion nation.

However, the meeting had started rather well for the Germans.

After their

, coach Hansi Flick's men first had a little delay in ignition.

Then, they came to their senses and dominated the debates, as expected.

And when goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda hooked David Raum, the referee logically awarded a penalty that Ilkay Gündogan converted (33rd, 1-0).

Just before the break, Kai Havertz scored a second goal from close range, but it was canceled as the Chelsea player was in an offside position.

At the start of the second half, the Nationalmannschaft looked for the break goal.

But the Germans lacked precision, like Serge Gnabry (47th) and Jamal Musiala (51st).

Gündogan found the post (60th) and Gonda intervened brilliantly in front of Gnabry (70th).

Thomas Müller and his family did not know it yet, but they had just missed their chance...

Doan and Asano, the super-replacements

The Japanese, more enterprising than in the first act, were rewarded for their efforts.

If Junya Ito failed on a great Manuel Neuer (73rd), Ritsu Doan had more success.

On a center pushed back full axis, the winger who evolves in Freiburg in Germany followed well and delivered his people with a shot in force (75th).

The sensation was complete a few minutes later with a jewel signed Takuma Asano, striker from Bochum, still in Germany.

With a shot in the skylight, the right-hander put the German ogre on the ground (83rd).

What a snub for the quadruple world champions, to see two players who play in their national championship hurt them so much.

And what coaching from Hajime Moriyasu, very happy to see two substitutes make the difference.

Doan had only been on the pitch for four minutes when equalizing, while Asano scored 25 minutes after coming on.

The last German flights were in vain.

The siege of the Japanese area and the rise of Manuel Neuer in the dying seconds did not allow the Mannschaft to avoid a crushing defeat.

The Argentinians are not the only ones to be stunned after their first match in Qatar.

Germany, eliminated in the first round four years ago in Russia, will have to quickly raise their heads.

It looks complicated because his next opponent in Group E is none other than Spain, on November 27.

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