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The Roar

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Germany stunned by Japan comeback, Seventh heaven for Spain, Canada taught brutal Belgian lesson, Croatia stutter

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23rd November, 2022
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Japan have claimed a stunning 2-1 comeback win over 2014 champions Germany on Thursday. The Germans went ahead in the first half and looked comfortable but ultimately had no answer for Japan’s extraordinary reverse.

The sensational result comes after Saudia Arabia toppled Leo Messi’s Argentina in an all-time boilover yesterday and busts Group E wide open.

Leroy Sane was a late omission, and Hansi Flick, taking charge of his first major tournament as Germany manager, deployed Chelsea’s Kai Havertz in the No.9 role, with Thomas Muller in behind as a ten. There was no spot for Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka as Joshua Kimmich and Ilkay Gundogan started in the engine room.

For Japan, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Takumi Minamino were among the substitutes.

Japan had the ball in the net just eight minutes into the contest but Daizen Maeda began his ran just a little too early and was caught offside.

Twenty-five minutes later as they began to make inroads, Germany took the lead through Gundogan, the Manchester City man keeping his cool with a composed penalty after fullback David Raum was brought down in the box by Shuichi Gonda.

(Photo by David Ramos – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

With Japan just trying to hold on until half-time Die Mannschaft appeared to have doubled their advantage with a killer blow just before the break, however a VAR check revealed Kai Havertz was offside as he finished off the slick passing move.

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The Germans picked up where the left off at the tail-end of the opening half with Gundogan going close with a strike from the edge of the penalty area.

Flick went to his bench in the 67th minute, bringing on Jonas Hofmann for Muller, and Goretzka replaced Gundogan who’d been through a mountain of work in the centre of midfield as well as his goal.

Minamino was brought on with 15 minutes to play as the Blue Samurai continued to chase the equaliser.

Just one minute later Japan were level as Manuel Neuer, excellent up until that point, was only able to parry a shot back into Ritsu Doan’s path, and the Freiburg winger made no mistake from close range.

It was then Mario Gotze’s turn to enter the fray after Flick had ended the 2014 hero’s exile from the squad.

As Japan kept probing, Takuma Asano had the ball on a string before charging in and smashing his shot into the roof of the net past the helpless Neuer, sending the Japanese fans in the stands into delirium.

Germany would be left to rue their missed opportunities and poor defending as the final whistle blew and wild scenes ensued in Doha.

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(Photo by David Ramos – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

Seventh heaven for Spain

Spain have begun their quest for a second World Cup crown in style, rattling up seven goals against an outclassed Costa Rican team.

After the giant-killings came the deluge.

Spain took no chances as they took seven of their chances against Costa Rica in Doha’s Al Thumama Stadium.

Having seized hold of the match with a goal inside a dozen minutes La Roja made sure not to let go.

By the half-hour they were 3-0 up with New Zealand’s playoff conquerors reduced to trying to keep the score down. That they failed to do, Spain adding another four in the second half.

The seven-goal victory was not even flattering such was Spain’s superiority, Costa Rica failing to manage either a shot or a corner.

After defeating Australia 4-1 on Tuesday French striker Ousmane Dembele had cautioned: “In modern football there’s no small teams. If you turn down the intensity, you’re in trouble.”

It was a lesson Argentina had failed to heed earlier that day after leading against Saudi Arabia, and one Germany spurned after leading against Japan on Wednesday.

The impact of the tournament’s second seismic shock was still reverberating when Spain kicked off a few miles away and barely than an hour later, and they were in no mood to permit a third shock.

Despite having to rejig due to illness and injury Spain took command from the start, dominating possession and pulling so many holes in Costa Rica’s cover the opening goal was no surprise.

Dani Olmo scored it in the 11th minute from a neat pass by Gavi, the forward turning smartly before lifting a shot over Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas. 

Ten minutes later Sergio Busquets, the only survivor from the winning 2010 team, swept a pass out to Jordi Alba whose cross was met by a Marco Asensio shot Navas should have kept out.

A further ten minutes on Oscar Duarte clipped the the heel of Alba and Ferran Torres made it 3-0 from the spot.

That was game over, a Spanish defence featuring Manchester City midfielder Rodri out of position having never been tested.

Torres scrambled a 54th-minute fourth from close range before Gavi volleyed a spectacular 75th-minute fifth from Alvaro Morata’s cross.

That made him the youngest goalscorer at the World Cup since Pele in the 1958 final.

As added time approached Soler drove in after Navas failed to hold Nico Williams’ teasing cross. Then Morata played a one-two with Olmo before tucking in the seventh.

It was the first time Spain had scored seven goals in a World Cup match, and was achieved with the first starting XI featuring two teenagers (18-year-old Gavi and 19-year-old Pedri) by any team since 1962.

It was also an ominous performance for a German side needing to gain a result when the teams meet on Sunday.

Canada taught brutal lesson by Belgium

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Canada’s first World Cup game since 1986 ended in a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Belgium, with the Red Devils dishing out a harsh lesson in tournament football thanks to a Michy Batshuayi goal late in the first half.

Despite a pre-tournament ranking of number two in the world, it was Belgium who were a clear second best for much of the game, with Canada consistently able to win the ball high and pressure Thibaut Courteois’ goal, with the Real Madrid keeper arguably man of the match.

His highlight was a stunning penalty save from Bayern star Alphonso Davies, but he was consistently able to turn the Canadians away. They managed 22 shots to the Belgians’ nine, but failed to find the net.

The only man who did was Batshuayi, who scored the simplest of goals just before the break. Canada had squandered the bulk of the opportunities and were undone by a long, straight pass up the field that fell straight to the feet of the Fenerbahce striker, who blasted past Milan Borjan in the goal.

Canada remain goalless, pointless and winless at the World Cup – they lost all their games in 1986 – but will take a lot of heart from the way that they troubled one of the tournament favourites.

Though Belgium improved in the second half and might have added to their lead as Canada threw men forward, they were happy to sit off and keep the Canadians at bay. Now, they are just one win away from a place in the knockouts, while Canada need to win against Croatia to stay in the tournament.

Croatia splutter to Morocco stalemate

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Croatia’s World Cup campaign is off to a stuttering start after a goalless draw against Morocco in Qatar.

Chances were sparse with Real Madrid’s Modric among those coming closest in the opening match in Group F which also features Belgium and Canada who meet later in the day.

The Atlas Lions contained Croatia well for most of Wednesday’s game but also failed to manage a breakthrough in Al Khor.

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A long-distance attempt from Ivan Perisic went over the crossbar before Croatia came closest just before intermission, Nikola Vlasic denied by goalkeeper Yassine Bounou from close range after a fast move, and Modric then blazing high from the edge of the area.

The 37-year-old Modric and his team also lacked ideas in the second half and their goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic had to palm away a fierce but not very accurate free-kick from Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi in the 65th.

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech, back in the Morocco squad under new coach Walid Regragui, also failed to make a decisive impact as the game ended in the third 0-0 of the tournament.



With agencies

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