Germany Stunned by Japan Comeback in Latest World Cup Shock
After Saudi Arabia’s win over Argentina, Qatar 2022 saw not just another upset, but another come-from-behind upset with the supposed minnow upending the heavy favorite.
As reported by ESPN, Germany went ahead in the first half on Wednesday via an Ilkay Gündogan penalty, but substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano struck in the last 15 minutes to turn the tie on its head.
Japan’s 2-1 victory underscores just how shaky this Germany side have become, particularly when they appear in control.
1. Japan Subs Make a Huge Difference
Four years ago, Japan were on the verge of knocking out Belgium and advancing to the World Cup quarterfinals. This time, they began with arguably the biggest shock result they have ever garnered, over four-time world champions Germany. But their 2-1 win owes a lot to this side’s ability to remain calm and make the sort of substitutions that change games.
Having gone a goal down after goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda conceded a needless penalty, in a first half which saw Germany create little, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu nailed all his substitutions. Kaoru Mitoma offered creativity and invention down the left; Takuma Asano was a whirlwind of energy and precision; Takehiro Tomiyasu offered the kind of stability at the back that allowed Japan to be more attacking and Takumi Minamino (in his own, sometime sloppy way), wreaked havoc and played a big part in the equalizer.
Japan went from the counter-attacking approach of the first half to a far more intense pressing game in midfield and a hit-in-transition style that rattled Germany. I’m not sure they could have turned it around were it not for the five substitutes.
2. Germany’s Lopsided Attack Fails
Germany finished the game with Mario Gotze, Youssoufa Moukoko and Niclas Fullkrug up front. In other words, a onetime phenom who had been written off three years ago and is only now making a timid return, a guy who only turned 18 on the day the World Cup started, and a guy winning (at 29) only his second Germany cap.
This was coach Hansi Flick’s Plan B, and that must be a serious concern. Flick had to turn to Plan B because Plan A consisted of a bunch of pieces that don’t quite fit together.
Kai Havertz was perennially stuck between following instructions and following instinct; Thomas Muller drifted slowly to the right flank and got in Serge Gnabry’s way. Meanwhile 19-year-old star Jamal Musiala showed glimpses of brilliance, but was relegated to an area out wide on the left which does little for his immense talent.
The focus will be on Germany’s uncharacteristic collapse and defensive errors from Nico Schlotterbeck and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (conceding at the near post.) But fundamentally it was a function of Germany’s front six being unable to control the game in the second half (Plan A). And that Plan B is the equivalent of trying to fix Thanksgiving lunch with stuff you might pick up at the gas station.
3. Germany Can’t Afford Another Slip
This is a tournament that continually harkens back to the past, so it’s pretty much inevitable that the spectre of what happened in Russia 2018 — with Germany exiting in the group stage for the first time in its post-war history following defeat to South Korea — will now be a talking point.
And, indeed, if you throw in Euro 2020 — when Germany went out with a whimper in the first knockout round against Gareth Southgate’s England — there will be plenty of self-doubt creeping in.
This is not a familiar position for Germany and the German public. They need to remember that, scary as Spain may be (or may not be … it’s tough to tell what you get with Luis Enrique), they control their own destiny. The good news? Costa Rica and Spain, the other sides in the group, play an entirely different brand of football. The bad news? If Germany play the way they did after the break, it won’t make much difference.
