Germany's national team took advantage over Japan in the first match of Group E, and missed opportunities to increase the score, which ended up costing them dearly. After several offensive attempts, the Asian team turned the tide: Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano defeated Manuel Neuer's resistance.
Shuichi Gonda, the Japanese goalkeeper, became a star by containing the advances of Kai Havertz, Serge Gnabry, and company. Under this context, coach Hajime Moriyasu took advantage to make some changes in the attack, understanding that the opponent was starting to leave spaces.
And the results started to come before the 74th minute. Kaoru Mitoma assisted Takumi Minamino (both entered in the 57th minute), who unleashed a powerful shot that Manuel Neuer stopped in the first instance. In the rebound, Ritsu Doan, with only four minutes on the Khalifa International Stadium turf, found the net.
Then, in the 83rd minute, Ko Itakura assisted Takuma Asano (entered in the 57th minute) with a long pass, and the finish was brilliant: the forward withstood Nico Schlotterbeck's tackle, reached the area, and shot high into the net. Immediately, the entire Japan national team embraced each other, as it is a historic result.
Japan's Schedule in the 2022 Qatar World Cup
Japan's national team was placed in Group E of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, along with Spain, Costa Rica, and Germany.
Wednesday, November 23
FT: Germany 1-2 Japan - Khalifa International Stadium
Sunday, November 27 (5:00 a.m. Peruvian time)
- Matchday 2: Japan vs. Costa Rica - Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
Thursday, December 1st (2:00 p.m. Peruvian time)
- Matchday 3: Japan vs. Spain - Khalifa International Stadium