SPORTS: JAPAN HUMILIATE EURO 2024 HOSTS GERMANY 4-1 AS PRESSURE BUILDS ON FLICK
Read Time:2 Minute, 25 Second
In a friendly international match on Saturday, Japan humiliated host nation Germany 4-1, adding further pressure to Hansi Flick’s already precarious position as coach.
With a 2-1 victory in Qatar the previous year, Japan, who also helped Germany’s World Cup group stage exit, scored twice in each half.
The setback makes Flick’s position even more uncertain nine months before Germany hosts the European Championships.
Leroy Sane’s goal in the first half was followed by goals from Junya Ito and Ayase Ueda, giving Japan a 2-1 advantage at the break as the home crowd booed their team.
Japan scored twice in the final five minutes through Takuma Asano and Ao Tanaka to cap a commanding performance as Germany continued to play sloppily in the second half.
Germany will “play our core team,” as Flick pledged before the game, abandoning an experimental strategy that had resulted in his team winning only one of five games since their humiliating World Cup elimination.
Nico Schlotterbeck, a centre back for Borussia Dortmund, has only ever started at left back twice in his senior career, both times coming off the bench.
Yukinari Sugawara of Japan left the pitch after 11 minutes due to Schlotterbeck’s lack of experience in the position, and the winger crossed for Ito to score the game’s opening goal.
Shortly afterwards, Germany levelled when newly appointed captain Ilkay Gundogan found Florian Wirtz on the edge of the box.
While preparing to shoot, the midfielder, who has excelled in Xabi Alonso’s table-topping Bayer Leverkusen midfield this season, laid off a pass for Sane, who gently slid the ball home.
The beautifully executed goal gave Germany hope of mounting a comeback, but Japan would score next, with Sugawara once more finding room down Schlotterbeck’s right wing.
The AZ Alkmaar winger connected with Ito, who fed Ueda’s goal by slipping the ball past the defenceless Germany.
At the interval, the home crowd’s polite silence gave way to boos and whistles, which persisted throughout the second half as Germany dominated possession but couldn’t get past a stubborn Japanese defence.
As Germany searched for an equaliser, Japan scored twice in the dying moments, once through Asano (who also scored the game-winning goal in Qatar) and once from Tanaka in extra time to cap off an incredible and dominant performance.
Germany has a history of being reluctant to fire coaches, especially so close to a big tournament, but they may be compelled to break with convention now that former Bayern Munich manager Julian Nagelsmann appears to be waiting in the wings.
Germany’s next match is on Tuesday in Dortmund against France, a team eager to take advantage of the space the German defensive provides.
A third straight victory kept Japan’s preparation for the Asia Cup, which will be held in Qatar in January and for which they have won a record four times, solid.
AFP
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0