Welcome to Truth Live News football commentary for Germany vs Japan Group E Round one 2022 World Cup match in Qatar.
Germany Lineup:
Japan Lineup:
The match starts soon, stay tuned as we give you updates on the goals and other events.
The first half is underway!
It’s 20 minutes into the first half and Germany is dominating the match but there’s no breakthrough yet for a goal.
31′
PENALTY – Shuichi Gonda from Japan concedes a penalty for tripping David Raum.
33′
G O O O A A A L – Gundogan puts Germany ahead from the spot.
Ilkay Gundogan from Germany puts it away from the penalty spot in the middle with the right foot. Shuichi Gonda jumped on the left.
45+4‘ GO O O O A A A L! Germany score! Kai Havertz is on the scoresheet.
45+5′
It’s half time
The first half ends, and what a half it’s been! Germany almost suffered an early scare as Maeda tapped in after just eight minutes, but his offside position gave the 2014 champions a huge let-off. This spooked them into gear, and the remainder of the half was dominated by the Germans, who peppered the Japan goal before winning a 33rd-minute penalty. Gundogan slotted it home to put Die Nationaelf into a deserved lead. They almost doubled it before half-time, as Havertz finished off a great attacking move, but he was also caught in an offside position, meaning the lead is still just one goal at the break.
Second Half
The teams return for the second half, with this game still far too close to call!
Gundogan’s penalty is the difference at the break, and the Manchester City midfielder went close several times before slotting home his spot-kick.
46‘ Kubo is withdrawn in Japan’s only half-time change, and Arsenal full-back Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces him.
47′ WIDE!!! Germany race towards goal as Muller drives up the field. He finds Gnabry wide to his right, who blasts a powerful effort wide of the target!
49‘ Germany are unbeaten in their last 21 World Cup matches when leading at half-time, dating back to 21st June 1978 against Austria, when they lost 3-2 in Argentina.
50‘ Schlotterbeck is pulled out of position by Ito, who cuts inside and goes down in the box under pressure from Kimmich. Kamada strikes the loose ball first-time, and a deflection sends the ball over for a Japanese corner!
58′ WIDE!!! Mitoma links up with Ito down the right, and meets the cross back into the box. He gets there ahead of Rudiger, but can only put his header wide!
60′ OFF THE POST!!! Germany keep the ball moving as Musiala again creates open space for himself. He lays off Gundogan, whose shot from the edge of the box strikes the base of Gonda’s left post and goes behind!
60‘ Gundogan’s wide pass to Gnabry is flashed across the face of goal, but Itakura clears before Havertz can get there!
75′ GOOOOAAAALLLL!!!!! Japan have parity, and boy do they deserve it!!! Mitoma drives forward before feeding Minamino, whose ball across the face is parried away by Neuer. Doan reacts quickest to smash the ball into the back of the net, and the three Japan substitutes combine to put them back on level terms at 1-1!
83′ GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL!!!! Can you believe it???? Itakura’s long ball from a free-kick in his own half is met by Asano, who beats Schlotterbeck with a beauty of a first touch. He darts into the box and smashes a shot from the tighrst of angles, which beats Neuer and flies into the roof of the net!!! What a turnaround, what a story, and what a finish, to put Japan 2-1 up!!!