Japan delivered a resounding surprise in Group E by beating Germany. Fifteen minutes before the end, Japan was still 1-0 behind in the Khalifa International Stadium. However, hits from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano resulted in a 2-1 win. Ilkay Gundogan had opened the score but then the Germans failed to bite through and deliver the final blow to Japan, which cost them dearly.
Germany’s players made a statement to FIFA before kick-off. At the official team photo beforehand, they all covered their mouths to protest against FIFA’s decision to ban the One Love bracelet. The Japanese were close to it from the first whistle and were also the first to create danger. After eight minutes, Gündogan lost the ball and after a sharp cross from Junya Ito, Daizen Maeda tapped in. However, the striker was offside. After fifteen minutes, the Germans reported emphatically for the first time when Antonio Rüdiger headed a corner wide. Japanese goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda was put to work after twenty minutes when Joshua Kimmich scored from outside the box.
Japan’s group pressure occasionally caused panic among the Germans, but Hansi Flick’s team gradually took control during the first half. A shot from Gündogan was an easy prey for Gonda and shortly afterwards the Manchester City midfielder found the Japanese keeper on his way again. After half an hour of play, Germany got a penalty kick. Kimmich found David Raum in the box and was knocked down by Gonda. Gündogan, the star of the first half, did not fail from eleven meters. After the hit, the encirclement of the Germans continued quietly. First Kimmich and Jamal Musiala shot high over and in injury time Havertz tapped in the 2-0, but he was offside.
The second half was less than five minutes old when Musiala scored 2-0. Bayern Munich’s super talent slalomed past four Japanese, but shot wildly over. Gundogan thought to make his second shortly after. However, his slider, on a pass from Musiala, hit the outside of the post. On the counter, via Ito and especially through substitute Takuma Asano, the Japanese tried to create danger, but without success. The Germans seemed to downshift a gear and controlled the game. With twenty minutes left on the clock, Gonda had to make four saves in one minute on four consecutive bets by Gnabry. The lack of the 2-0 cost them dearly.
Shortly after Gnabry’s chances, the shock hit the Mannschaft for the heart. Asano thought he could outwit Manuel Neuer from close range, but the goalkeeper was alert. Two minutes later it was substitute Ritsu Doan who nevertheless scored the equalizer. Neuer made a good save on a shot by Takumi Minamino, although the ball then fell right at Doan’s feet: 1-1. Flick then decided to bring in Niclas Füllkrug and Mario Götze. For the former PSV player it was his first international match since November 14, 2017. Japan even took the lead with just seven minutes on the clock. Asano took the ball perfectly and shot it behind Neuer. Germany launched a final offensive with all their might and claimed a penalty twice. However, this was not the case. A blast from Goretzka made Japan tremble for a while, but Gonda saw the ball go wide.