This time for Asia - Japan stun Germany in a World Cup classic

Another Asian country caused yet another shock at the Fifa World Cup 2022 as Japan beat Germany by 2-1 just a day after Saudi Arabia shocked Argentina by the same scoreline. 

This will definitely go down as one of Japan's greatest World Cup performances. They've shocked the four-time World Champions. They must have been watching Saudi Arabia's win on repeat last night because they managed to turn the game around after a dominant first half from Germany. And a penalty goal from Ilkay Gundogan. 

The shock result was a repeat of Germany's 2018 World Cup nightmare when, as defending champions, they lost their opener to Mexico and, after another defeat by South Korea, were condemned to an unheard-of group-stage exit.

In the match, late goals by Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano gave Japan an incredible 2-1 comeback victory over Germany in the World Cup on Wednesday after the four-times champions had looked to be cruising to victory via an Ilkay Guendogan penalty but paid a fatal price for missing chances.

Germany looked in total command in the Group E clash but, with each missed chance, left the door open for Japan, who showed almost nothing in attack until a series of substitutions injected some energy in the second half.

Doan equalised in the 75th minute before Asano showed lovely control and smashed the winner in from a tight angle - causing an explosion of joy among the Japan bench.

It was a turnaround that looked scarcely believable as Japan struggled to get any foothold for most of the game.

Germany's early dominance was rewarded when Joshua Kimmich picked out David Raum in acres of space in the box and goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda clumsily brought him down as he turned, with Guendogan dispatching the penalty in the 33rd minute.

Kai Havertz turned in what he thought was a second in first-half stoppage time and although the assistant referee was about the only person in the Khalifa International stadium not to notice he was a metre offside, VAR duly disallowed it.

There was initially little change to the pattern in the second half as Jamal Musiala shot over after a penetrating run and Guendogan clipped a post.

Gonda then made amends with four successive saves to deny Jonas Hofmann and Serge Gnabry, keeping his side in the game.

Manuel Neuer, appearing in his fourth World Cup, was also alert to save from Hiroki Sakai and did well again soon after to block from Takumi Minamino, only for fellow substitute Doan to smash in the loose ball.

Suddenly buoyed, Japan pushed on and Asano showed great strength to bring down a high free kick and hold off defender Nico Schlotterbeck and fantastic technique to hammer the ball into the smallest of spaces.

Germany launched an all-out attack from then on, to no avail. Japan held out and this group is really interesting. Spain, Germany, Costa Rica and Japan. Japan have made their mark now and the Germans have work to do as they face a potentially must-win game next against Spain.

Japan next face Costa Rica and will already be dreaming of the last 16.