DOHA, Qatar (AP) — How huge was Japan’s 2-1 upset of Germany within the opening spherical of the World Cup?Newspapers in Japan used the time period “Daikimboshi” from sumo wrestling to explain the magnitude of the shock: when a low-ranked wrestler overpowers a grand champion.The victory has additionally been in comparison with Japan’s 34-32 upset of highly effective South Africa within the 2015 rugby World Cup in England.Japan was the underdog towards four-time champion Germany, however will probably be a robust favourite in its subsequent Group E match towards Costa Rica, the place a victory might transfer Japan into the knockout stage with a sport to spare.A loss by Costa Rica on Sunday would eradicate it from advancing. Costa Rica faces Germany in its last match and Japan goes towards Spain.Costa Rica is reeling from a 7-0 thrashing towards Spain in its opener, and it’s anybody’s guess how the Ticos will reply. With a inhabitants of simply over 5 million, the tiny Central American nation is showing in its sixth World Cup. It reached the quarterfinals in 2014 in Brazil.Japan has by no means reached the quarterfinals at a World Cup, and that’s the intention this time. That is Japan’s seventh straight look, and it has reached the spherical of 16 on three events, together with in Russia in 2018. It misplaced 3-2 in stoppage time to Belgium after main 2-0. It was eradicated by Paraguay on penalties in 2010, and misplaced to Turkey 1-0 in 2002 when the nation co-hosted the occasion with South Korea.Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has spoken usually about going farther this time and breaking the “final-16 hex.”Substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late objectives towards Germany — they each play in Germany’s Bundesliga — to steer Japan to the upset. Asano obtained the winner within the 83rd minute, squeezing the ball behind German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from a really sharp angle.Costa Rica was overwhelmed by Spain with solely 28% of the possession. It might additionally face the identical downside towards Japan, which is ready to maintain the ball for lengthy spells, and can be a fast, counterattacking risk.“We couldn’t full three or 4 passes,” Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez mentioned of the Spain loss.The Ticos should do far more towards Japan.___
Japan goals for World Cup knockout stage towards Costa Rica
