World Cup 2022: Japan stun Germany; Morocco, Croatia ends in a scoreless draw
Japan stunned Germany 2-1 in their World Cup opener on Wednesday, punishing the four-time champions for not taking their chances after they dominated the first half.
The German team covered their mouths for the team photo before the match in a powerful protest against Fifa’s decision to ban rainbow-themed armbands.
Hansi Flick’s team came to Qatar under huge pressure to avoid the disaster of 2018, when they failed to make it out of the group stage in Russia as defending champions.
They took the lead through a first-half penalty from Ilkay Gundogan and should have buried the game after creating a host of chances but Japan hung on and equalised through substitute Ritsu Doan in the 75th minute.
Takuma Asano then completed a remarkable turnaround eight minutes later, smashing the ball home to send the boisterous Japanese fans wild as they held on to a famous win against Die Mannschaft.
Germany’s World Cup future is now on the line, with games to come in Group E against Spain and Costa Rica.
Morocco and Croatia played out a goalless draw in their World Cup opener on Wednesday at the Al Bayt Stadium.
In a game which featured few clear-cut chances, Morocco will be more satisfied with the share of the spoils ahead of fellow Group F teams Belgium and Canada meeting later in the day.
Both teams would have been pleased with their fast start to the contest in Al Khor, but it was not until the 17th minute when a noteworthy shot on goal occurred as Ivan Perisic sent a long-range effort marginally off target.
At the other end, Youssef En-Nesyri should have done much better with a header from an inswinging cross, the Sevilla forward failing to make proper contact when he would have expected to put Morocco in front.
The intensity from the opening quarter had ramifications for the second as the action dried up, but Croatia twice went close in the minutes before the half-time whistle.
Goalkeeper Yassine Bounou made a terrific block at his near post to deny Nikola Vlasic from close range, before Luka Modric sent a first-time strike from the edge of the area marginally over the crossbar.
After the restart, Noussair Mazraoui saw a header saved at the near post by Dominik Livakovic, while Morocco had to be alert at a corner at the other end with the ball twice being cleared from in front of goal.
However, as the clock ticked past the hour mark, the match had again lost its spark, something which Achraf Hakimi looked to change with a blistering 30-yard strike which needed to be punched away by Livakovic.
That proved to be a false dawn as Morocco started to sit deeper, inviting pressure from Croatia and successfully negotiating any balls which were delivered into the box.
