Japan now has a greater than 72% chance of reaching the last 16, according to Opta.
They rated Germany’s expectations at under 37%. The Netherlands lead the table at nearly 98%, followed closely by England and France – but you’d be making fun of those numbers if the shock continues.
Takuma Asano came off the bench and scored a dramatic winner for Japan, who shocked the 2022 World Cup with a 2-1 win over Germany at the Khalifa International Stadium.
The winger, who plays for VfL Bochum in the German Bundesliga, had a major impact on the game as Ilkay Gundogan put Germany ahead with a first-half penalty before Japanese substitute Ritsu Doan leveled with
Germany vs. Japan final score and Highlights
FINAL: Germany 1-2 Japan
JAPAN DID IT! It was a familiar result for Samurai Blue, who pulled off a thrilling comeback victory, while it was a case of déjà vu for Germany as they lost their other World Cup opener.
90 min + 5: Jail for Leon Gorecka! The German reserve sent in a low shot which was very close, but ended up just over the Japanese goal. This could be Germany’s last chance as we enter the final moments of injury time.
90 minutes +2: Germany lost their first game in the World Cup finals for the second time in a row. The last time they lost a World Cup match after taking the lead at half-time was in 1978.
85th minute: Goal comes from a long ball that Takuma Asano controls well before beating Nico Schlotterbeck and firing a high angle shot at goal from close range.
Minute 83: JAPAN HAS AGAIN! AWESOME FINISH BY TAKUMA ASANO AND 2:1 FOR SAMURAI BLUE!
75 min: GOOOOOOOLLLLL – JAPAN HAS THE SAME! Manuel Neuer was only able to parry Takumi Minamino’s corner shot into the path of substitute Ritsu Doan, who was happy to send the ball into the net.
73 minutes: what a parade! Manuel Neuer made a world-class save against Junya Ito’s equalizer, parrying the Reims winger’s shot and Hiroki Sakai just bouncing off the rebound.
70:06 min: Double save by Shuichi Gonda! The Japanese parried a header from Serge Gnabry from close range back onto Bayern Munich’s run, but level with Gnabry’s margin. Disturbing things about Japan.
68th minute: Antonio Rüdiger makes a well-timed save to stop Takuma Asano’s close-range shot at Manuel Neuer in the Germany goal, but the team now have to work hard to stay ahead.
66th minute: Takuma Asano looked good from the moment he came on and his shot from a tight angle was turned wide, earning Japan a corner where Ko Itakura’s header was blocked. Samurai Blue doesn’t give up on his search for balance.
60 minutes: Two of the best players in the game so far combined to create a great chance for Germany. Jamal Musiala teed up Ilkay Gündogan with a low shot which hit the outside post and went wide of the net.
56th minute: Double replacement for Japan, Kaoru Mitoma replaces Yuto Nagatomo and Takuma Asano comes on for Daizen Maeda. Samurai Blue still looks dangerous in the flash, but maybe fresh legs will lift his spirits.
50 min: Jamal Musiala dances his way through the Japanese defense and almost – almost – scores one of the goals of the tournament so far, firing his shot high after all the hard work. Great things from the 19 year old winger.
47th minute: Arsenal defender Takehiro Tomiyasu plays for Japan early in the second half after replacing Takefusa Kubo, but it’s Germany’s Serge Gnabry who creates the first chance of the second half, lofting the ball from a tight angle into Japan’s penalty area.
HALF TIME: Germany 1-0 Japan
Germany led 1-0 at half-time against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium, where Ilkay Gündogan’s penalty separated the two teams.
The team created the better chances in the early stages and almost extended their lead when Kai Havertz scored an offside goal just before half-time.
But Japan were still in the game and looking dangerous at the break, with Junya Ito providing pace down the right flank and Daizen Maeda looking lively up front.
The Germans are on a winning streak, but they’re not going to drop anyone here.
45+4th minute: Kai Havertz puts the ball in the back of the net after a good pass from Germany, but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal is ruled out for offside.
44th minute: Jamal Musiala creates one centimeter on the edge of the Japanese penalty area and fires a powerful shot just over the bar. Great skills from the Bayern Munich striker – something this game could use a little more after some cool periods of play.
41st minute: Japan couldn’t come up with a good answer after falling behind and allowed Germany to pass the ball in stride as they looked for a second before the break, Joshua Kimmich’s shot over the bar outside the box.
32:35 minutes: GOOOOOOOL! Ilkay Gündogan coolly scored a penalty on the left of center after David Raum was brought down by Japanese keeper Shuichi Gonda in the box. This means Germany has the most well-deserved lead in a game record.
31st minute: Penalty for Germany!
29 min: Ilkay Gündogan misses two chances! First, he shot straight at Shuichi Gonda from outside the box, then the Manchester City man made a move that ended with a shot inside the box, but his shot was deflected wide.
27th minute: Every time Germany gets close to Japan’s penalty area, there are seven or eight blue shirts in front of them. Kai Havertz should have played as a lone striker, but didn’t get a chance to play.
20 min: Germany are creating chances now, Joshua Kimmich tests Shuichi Gonda just outside the box, but Japan still find space behind a shaky looking backline. It’s hard to predict which way the opening goal could go here.
16 minutes: CHANCE! Antonio Rudiger headed wide from a Joshua Kimmich corner and the Real Madrid defender should have done better there as Germany entered the game for the first time.
Min 12: Things were strangely quiet as Germany started to dominate the ball here. The side found their feet in this game after nearly being knocked out in the first 10 minutes but struggled to break through the compact Japanese defence.
7:23 minute: Japan has the ball but is offside. Ilkay Gundogan had the ball in the middle of the pitch and Japan burst through Junya Ito, but Daizen Maeda was ruled offside as he slid into the net.
6 minutes: Japanese fans have brought drums and are happy to beat them as the two teams head into this Group E opener. They hope their team can find a rhythm.
1 min: We’re here as Germany try to avoid another group stage elimination at the World Cup – they were knocked out in the group stage for the first time at the 2018 World Cup.
2 minutes before kick-off: Germany’s players show their feelings in a team photo after being banned from wearing the OneLove armband at the 2022 World Cup.
