Germany's Stunning Upset Loss in Group Play to Japan Shocks 2022 Men's World Cup
Tim Daniels@@TimDanielsBR
Featured Columnist IVNovember 23, 2022
Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late in the second half to lead Japan to a shocking 2-1 upset win over Germany in the Group E opener at the 2022 FIFA World Cup on Wednesday.
Ilkay Gündogan put the four-time World Cup champions ahead from the penalty spot in the first half. The German defense faltered inside the final 15 minutes, however, and the Samurai Blue took full advantage inside Qatar's Khalifa International Stadium.
Here's a look at some social media reaction to the tournament's latest stunner:
H e n r y @HenryM_CjFirst Argentina, now German? Ladies and gentlemen, this is Football🌹🔥❤️❤️<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GERJPN?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GERJPN</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FIFAWorldCup?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FIFAWorldCup</a> <a href="https://t.co/9txeYvIlM9">pic.twitter.com/9txeYvIlM9</a>
Germany joins Argentina as expected championship contenders to drop their opening match. Lionel Messi and Co. fell short against Saudi Arabia in similar fashion on Tuesday as the Green Falcons netted a pair of second-half goals to secure the upset.
Most of the numbers from Wednesday's match heavily favored the Germans, who held 74 percent of possession, a 25-11 advantage in shots attempted and a massive 751-214 edge in passes completed.
Their execution in the final third was lacking, however, and Japanese goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda was up to the task when called upon with seven saves.
Germany's inability to score a second goal—a tap-in by Kai Havertz late in the first half was taken off the scoreboard after VAR showed the play was clearly offside—left the door open for Japan.
Doan and Asano capitalized on a 10-minute stretch of lackluster, wide-open defending by Germany, who couldn't respond with an equalizer despite some late pressure.
Spain and Costa Rica will play later Wednesday to determine the full Group E standings after the first matchday.
Regardless of that result, Germany is going to face a lot of pressure to secure a result in Sunday's marquee clash with Spain to keep its hopes of surviving the group alive, especially after the squad's early exit four years ago in Russia.
The losses by the favored Argentines and Germans are also a wake-up call to the tournament favorites that there won't be any guaranteed points in Qatar.