Sweating it out: Japan players warm up during a training session ahead of their Group E match against Costa Rica in Doha. — AP
HOW big was Japan’s 2-1 upset of Germany in the opening round of the World Cup?
Newspapers in Japan used the term “Daikimboshi” from sumo wrestling to describe the magnitude of the surprise: when a low-ranked wrestler overpowers a grand champion.
The victory has also been compared to Japan’s 34-32 upset of powerful South Africa in the 2015 Rugby World Cup in England.
The Samurai Blue were the underdogs against four-time champions Germany, but they will be strong favourites in their next Group E match against Costa Rica, where a victory could move Japan into the knockout stage with a game to spare.
A loss by Costa Rica today would eliminate them from advancing. Costa Rica face Germany in their final match and Japan go against Spain.
Costa Rica are reeling from a 7-0 thrashing against Spain in their opener, and it’s anyone’s guess how the Ticos will respond.
With a population of just over five million, the tiny Central American country is appearing in their sixth World Cup.
They reached the quarter-finals in 2014 in Brazil.
Japan have never reached the quarter-finals at a World Cup, and that’s the aim this time.
This is Japan’s seventh straight appearance, and they have reached the last 16 on three occasions, including in Russia in 2018.
They lost 3-2 in stoppage time to Belgium after leading 2-0.
They were eliminated by Paraguay on penalties in 2010, and lost to Turkey 1-0 in 2002 when the country co-hosted the event with South Korea.
Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu has spoken often about going farther this time and breaking the “final-16 hex”.
Substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano scored late goals against Germany – they both play in Germany’s Bundesliga – to lead Japan to the upset.
Asano got the winner in the 83rd minute, squeezing the ball behind German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer from a very sharp angle.
Costa Rica were overwhelmed by Spain with only 28% of the possession.
They would also face the same problem against Japan, who are able to hold the ball for long spells, and are also a quick, counter-attacking threat.
“We couldn’t complete three or four passes,” Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez said of the Spain loss. The Ticos will have to do much more against Japan. — AP
