Costa Rica has completely reduced the tension in Group E at the World Cup. Thanks to a goal from Keysher Fuller, Japan’s cautious football, which still caused a sensation against Germany by playing bravely ahead and putting pressure, was punished hard: 0-1. As a result, Germany, which will play against Spain on Sunday evening, can also hope for a sequel in the tournament.
Ritsu Doan earned a basic place after his good raid against Germany last Wednesday. The former PSV player countered the equalizer the Mannschaft for his account and was posted to the left in the vanguard before the encounter with Costa Rica. National coach Hajime Moriyasu did not exactly stick to his winning team anyway, because he made five changes in total. The Costa Ricans played with two other names compared to the 7-0 loss against Spain. That did not mean that Bryan Ruiz came into the team, because the experienced star started again as a bench seat.
Where the Japanese previously impressed with high pressure and chasing the Germans, a completely different tactic was chosen against Costa Rica. The Asians collapsed from minute one and left the ball to the men of national coach Luis Fernando Suárez, who were clearly happy that they were not trampled again. Chances were not played together in the first company and so a 0-0 halftime score, for the twelfth time during this World Cup, was a logical consequence.
After the break, a different game image emerged. Japan seemed to have realized that the Costa Ricans simply had to be beaten and so, with Takuma Asano as a substitute, football was now played forward. Doan also showed himself several times, but for a long time it was not enough to earn great opportunities. It remained prudent and the anxious Japanese football was even punished ten minutes before the end by Costa Rica, which came out of its shell. Keysher Fuller found the ball in front of the left, knocked the keeper in the far corner and thus made for a surprising 0-1 score.
GOAL! Keysher Fuller puts Costa Rica ahead: 1-0. Watch live: https://t.co/CBo8IZugKJ#WK2022 #JAPCRC pic.twitter.com/puNhNDFq81
— NOS Football (@NOSfootball) November 27, 2022
That was the signal for the Japanese national coach to bring in Takumi Minamino and start taking serious risks in the hunt for a goal. It could have just fallen a minute before the end, but Keylor Navas plucked the ball out of the air after a very nervous scrimmage in front of the goal mouth. In the six minutes of extra time, no more goals were scored by Japan, which drooped with shame on its cheeks and will still have to achieve a result against Spain on the last day of play. Costa Rica will then take on Germany.