Japan 2-1 Germany
Japan upsets Germany by a score of 2-1 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar.
Germany started things off with a penalty in the 33rd minute in which Ílkay Gündoğan would fake out Japanese keeper Shūichi Gonda, and pass it down the middle of the goal.
Japan ended up defending most of the first half, giving Germany more than two-thirds of the possession.
It was not until later in the second half that Japan would turn on the jets and switch to an altogether attacking mindset. They eventually tied things up in the 75th minute thanks to a goal from Ritsu Doan who was able to pass in a rebound off of Manuel Neuer’s save.
Just eight minutes later Takuma Asano scored after controlling a long aerial pass and blasting it into the roof of the net from a tough angle, right inside the six, and just next to the baseline.
If Japan can keep up this form they have a great shot at advancing. Germany on the other hand, cannot afford another loss or their run will be cut short.
In other matchday news:
Morocco 0-0 Croatia
Morocco and Croatia play a scoreless game at the Al-Bayt stadium in Al Khor, Qatar.
Morocco’s team consists of younger players and it showed. Morocco was energetic the entire game but was only able to produce two shots on target.
Croatia, who is playing with an older generation of players, was able to make up for this fact with their technicality. Although they did not create as many chances as Morocco, they still ended with just as many, or in this case few, shots on target.
Spain 7-0 Costa Rica
Spain dishes out a 7-0 beating to Costa Rica at the Al-Thumama stadium in Al-Thumama, Qatar.
Spain would finish out the first half with three goals in a 30-minute timespan. Dani Olmo started off in the 11th minute with a great first touch in the box and followed up by tapping the ball, off the bounce, into the net. Marco Asensio scored 10 minutes later, and Ferran Torres would wrap up the half by converting a penalty in a cheeky fashion at the 31st minute.
Torres would also open the second half by scoring in the 54th minute after shielding the ball from the keeper, turning and passing the ball into the left-hand side of the goal. Gavi, with a perfectly placed volley off of the post, would set a record in the 74th minute, becoming the youngest player for Spain to score a goal at the World Cup, at just 18 years and 110 days.
Carlos Soler and Álvaro Morata would end Costa Rica’s torture with goals at the 90th and 92nd minutes respectively.
Belgium 1-0 Canada
Canada outplays Belgium in their 1-0 loss at the Ahmad bin Ali stadium in Al-Rayyan, Qatar.
Canada created 22 chances to score, but could not find a goal, as well as only managing to get three of those chances on target. Belgium created less than half as many chances and was able to find a win thanks to Michy Batshuayi in the 44th minute.
Canada may have come out with a loss, but they proved they are more than capable of playing well against tough teams. I think if they can work on converting, they will prove to be just as difficult an opponent in their upcoming matches.
What groups E and F look like after their first matchday
Group E
- Spain 3pts
- Japan 3pts
- Germany 0pts
- Costa Rica 0pts
Group F
- Belgium 3pts
- Croatia 1pts
- Morocco 1pts
- Canada 0pts
Photo: Takuma Asano – Shutterstock – user: feelphoto – ID: 486152350
