“Without courage and strength”: this is how Germany is torn after Japan’s collapse Canada struggles after narrow defeat with this referee’s mistake

“It’s on again! Like the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Germany started with a disaster. Then 0-1 against Mexico, this time 1-2 against Japan. Then we were kicked out after the devastating group stage. And this time? we beat Spain!”

“Flick has always been praised for having a clear plan, a clear game idea, with high fullbacks, an aggressive but also risky game. How daring, that was already announced in almost all international matches this year. »

“In the end, as so often, an old football wisdom comes true: if you don’t put things in front, you will get them in the back. With the exception of Antonio Rüdiger, who delivers a strong game, the German defense looks fragile.”

“Germany found too few defensive solutions to defend the last Japanese offensive with their back four. So the German defense seems to remain the Achilles’ heel of the team and will probably be tested again in the next group game against Spain.”

“The German-European ‘One Love’ connection remained hidden. So the first defeat of the Germans at the World Cup in Qatar was perfect, without a word before FIFA conceded before the first ball was played. »

“The next disappointment came ninety minutes later: a bitter 2-1 defeat to Japan. The Germans also lacked resilience on the field. The end of the World Cup qualifying round is imminent again. The lack of focus on the sport has taken its toll.”

“Humorous and unthinkable: a game that begins with a symbolic protest against FIFA for the German national team ends with a depressing 2-1 draw against Japan. Manuel Neuer has been let down by his defense.”

“Like Argentina the day before (…) the DFB selection failed to enforce the preliminary decision in the strong phase – and was brutally punished by efficient Japanese. It has nothing to do with bad luck, much more with quality and conviction. It starts at the very front with Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry and ends at the back with Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck when they conceded.”

“The Blue Samurai’s shift in strategy to a back three pays off as Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano score late in the second half for a glorious win.”

“In the days leading up to the match, the Japanese were wildly enthusiastic about Germany and its coaches, who had helped develop football in their country in the decades following World War II. But by the time they left the field at Doha’s Khalifa Stadium as sensational winners, they clearly outsmarted their teachers.”

“Germany 1 Japan 2: Another big World Cup shock: The Japanese surprise one of the favorites with a brilliant victory”

“It may be hard to accept that Germany has become an outsider, but the evidence is piling up.”

“If it is true that every game is a final, especially in such a short competition, then it is now a bit more for Germany.”

“An even more egregious misstep than in 2018, when Germany failed against Mexico and was eliminated for the first time in the group stage. The specter of such an early exclusion is therefore very real again, even more so than in the case of Argentina.”

“Trouble for Germany from the start. After the setback from Russia 2018, where they were eliminated in the group stage, Flick’s team struggled again at the first hurdle. In the two remaining games, one against Spain, the Germans now have little room for error.”