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‘We need to forget win over Germany’ – head coach Moriyasu
Costa Rica put a huge dent in Japan‘s hopes of reaching the World Cup last 16 as they recovered from their hammering by Spain to claim a surprise 1-0 victory in Group E on Sunday. Keysher Fuller’s 81st-minute effort, Costa Rica’s first shot on target in a dreary game, stunned the drum-beating Japanese fans in the stadium and left the group wide open. Japan‘s historic victory over Germany in their opener coupled with Costa Rica’s 7-0 drubbing by Spain cleared the way for Japan to reach the last 16 with a game to spare.
But a much-changed line-up failed to spark and their hopes of reaching the knockout stage for a fourth time are now left hanging in the balance with their final game against Spain. Costa Rica, written off before kickoff, are now level on three points with Japan and have a chance to reach the last 16. Heavyweights Spain and Germany play later.
A first-half of mind-numbing tedium even tested the patience of the drum-banging Japanese fans massed in their blue shirts at one end of the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. Apart from a two-minute burst at the start of the game by Japan, the rest of the opening half was played at snail’s pace. For Costa Rica the lack of goalmouth action was probably most welcome seeing as they conceded three times in the opening half an hour against Spain.
Both goalkeepers were redundant and the only incidents that could pass as goalmouth action was a cross by Japan‘s Ritsu Doan that flashed across the goal and a scooped shot high over the crossbar by Costa Rica forward Joel Campbell. Japan‘s coach Hajime Moriyasu took off defender Yuto Nagatomo at halftime and replaced him with attacker Takuma Asano who was surprisingly left on the bench despite scoring the winner against Germany. Immediately after the break Japan looked more threatening with Hidemasa Morita finally testing Keylor Navas with a stinging drive the Costa Rica keeper turned away.Kicking towards their fans, Japan began to seize control and Moriyasu made another attacking change with midfielder Kaoru Mitoma coming on for right back Miki Yamane. Japan were camped in Costa Rica’s half but and it seemed only a matter of time before their pressure would pay off but in a rare break, Japan failed to clear and Fuller curled a shot which keeper Shuichi Gonda could not keep out.
Relive all the action with our live blog below and follow Belgium vs Morocco here:
Jurgen Klinsmann seeks to cool tensions in Carlos Queiroz row
Jurgen Klinsmann wants to speak to Iran coach Carlos Queiroz in a bid to calm the situation between them, after the Portuguese took exception to comments the German made about his team.
Queiroz called for Klinsmann to resign from his role as a member of Fifa’s Technical Study Group in a Twitter thread posted on Saturday after the 1990 World Cup winner spoke about how Iran had deployed gamesmanship and “worked the referee” during their win over Wales on Friday.
Queiroz called the remarks “outrageous” and a “disgrace to football”.
Klinsmann has also faced wider criticism for his remarks, which were made during punditry for the BBC, and sought to smooth the waters in an interview with BBC Breakfast on Sunday.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:35
Costa Rica earn World Cup redemption as Japan near another tragedy from jaws of triumph
Japan arrived in Qatar hoping to atone for their most infamous of visits to this country, when a stoppage-time equaliser in a 2-2 draw with Iraq on neutral ground during the qualifiers for the 1994 World Cup denied them their first-ever place at a finals. There have been seven consecutive qualifications since – a remarkable rise to becoming an established footballing nation – but if they leave without reaching the knock-out stages of this tournament, they will be left to lament this defeat as their new ‘Tragedy of Doha’.
After their exceptional win in the first round of group games, not to mention Costa Rica’s 7-0 defeat, this was a chance for Japan to all but secure a place in the last-16 and pile pressure on Germany before their meeting with Spain later this evening. Instead, Keysher Fuller’s 81st-minute winner has turned Group E on its head and produced a plausible scenario where all four sides go into the final round level on points.
Hajime Moriyasu may try to look on the bright side and philosophise that three points after two games is par for the course. But in the cold reality of a World Cup, while witnessing Moriyasu and his players bow apologetically to their supporters at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, the only conclusion to be drawn from a scrappy contest with a sensational finish is that his side have wasted the golden opportunity that beating Germany presented.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:30
Belgium vs Morocco
Belgium’s victory in the group stage of the 1994 World Cup is the only competitive meeting between these sides.
The Red Devils have won their last eight World Cup group-stage matches to equal the tournament record achieved by Brazil on two occasions (1986-1994 and 2002-2010).
Morocco have won only two of their 17 World Cup matches (D6, L9). They claimed victories in their final group stage fixture in 1986 (3-1 against Portugal) and 1998 (3-0 against Scotland).
They have only reached the knockout phase at the 1986 World Cup in Mexico.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:28
FT Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Costa Rica end a seven-match winless run at the World Cup (D4-L3). Their last World Cup victories dated back to the 2014 group stage: against Uruguay (3-1) and Italy (1-0) respectively.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:23
Belgium vs Morocco
After a poor performance against Canada which luckily saw them win 1-0 Belgium will qualify for the last 16 if they also defeat Morocco becoming just the second team, after France, to do so.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:18
FT Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
This is a gut-punching stat for fans of Japan.
Japan had 11 shots in the second half, no goals.
Costa Rica had one shot, one goal.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:13
FT Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:10
FT Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
If Germany defeat Spain in the 7pm match tonight then all four teams in Group E will have three points and qualification will be decided in the final group games during the week.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:06
Belgium vs Morocco
Reaction from Costa Rica’s shock victory to come as build-up starts for Belgium’s match vs Morocco. Here’s a look at the two lin-ups:
Belgium XI: Courtois; Meunier, Vertonghen, Alderweireld, Castagne; Witsel, Onana; Thorgan Hazard, De Bruyne, Eden Hazard; Batshuayi
Morocco XI: Bounou, Hakimi, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui, Amrabat, Ounahi, Amallah, Ziyech, En Nesyri, Boufal
Michael Jones27 November 2022 12:00
Full-time: Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
90+6 mins: Well, who was expecting that?
Costa Rica have nicked a three points away from Japan to keep their Group E hopes alive. They draw level with their opponents and Spain in the group and have the chance to qualify when they face Germany next week.
It’s a fantastic result for them. Keysher Fuller’s goal is the difference between the teams and he is Costa Rica’s hero today.
Michael Jones27 November 2022 11:54
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