JAPAN HAVE ARRIVED AT THE 2022 WORLD CUP
(Tasawar Abbas, Frankfurt Am Main)
Germany vs Japan
That is nothing more than Japan deserve! Takuma Asano – of Bundesliga side Bochum – scored a brilliant late winner to floor Germany, who are now in serious danger of going out in the groups again
In the space of just over 24 hours, the old order had been flipped for a second time. The parallels between Germany’s fate and Argentina’s humiliation at the hands of Saudi Arabia were uncanny. Both these World Cup giants took the lead with a penalty, both dominated their first halves, and both had early goals scrubbed out for offside. And while both led 1-0 at half-time, both were irreparably damaged by conceding two goals in rapid succession, with both ultimately losing 2-1. The two countries could be forgiven for wondering whether there was some dastardly celestial pattern at work
Germany’s competition could be over as soon as Sunday, should they succumb to Spain. It did not take long for that dire prospect to breed dissent in the ranks. Ilkay Gundogan, the Manchester City midfielder, gave a bracing post-match interview in which he accused his team-mates of lacking hunger for the fight. You sensed that he had Niklas Süle, who played Asano onside en route to Japan’s winner, uppermost in his mind
They were the equals of Germany in the first half, and – sensationally – their betters in the second! It’s all down to Hajime Moriyasu’s slew of substitutes, all of whom made an impact. A managerial masterclass … and his players aren’t half bad either! Takuma Asano’s winner was an absolute belter. Their entire bench romps onto the field of play to embrace the men who finished the game, then Moriyasu gathers everyone to make a celebratory speech. They’ve beaten Germany for the first time in their history! Another trip to the last 16 is now very much on … and with Spain up for Germany next, the four-time winners could be eliminated in the groups again, before Sunday is out!
Sorry for all the exclamation marks, but, well, y’know