Germany lost 2-1 to Japan and showed more light than shadow, especially on the defensive. Antonio Rüdiger was convincing, while Niklas Süle and Nico Schlotterbeck were not. The German players in the individual review.
Manuel Neuer: The German number 1 didn’t have to parry a shot for 72 minutes, but then he was in the limelight – with a bad outcome for him. Brilliant save in the 73rd, conceding a saved shot in the 76th, not at fault at 1-2 when he opened the short corner against Asano. Like his team, the captain also lacked luck.
Niklas Sule: Sometimes on the right side, sometimes as a third central defender – but above all in a lost position. The Dortmund made little forward, but made a lot of mistakes on the defensive. Especially at 1:2, when he was well behind his fellow defenders and thus canceled the offside. When equalizing, he also didn’t go into a duel and let the opposing striker get a shot.
Antonio Rudiger: For a long time, the defense chief was the very big anchor in the German game. While his teammates made a mistake, the real star repeatedly blocked the Japanese shots, ran long balls and won almost all duels (81 percent). Unfortunately, Süle and Schlotterbeck couldn’t sit up on him.
Nico Schlotterbeck: The BVB defender was already a factor of uncertainty in the first half, and it got even worse in the second half. Extremely hesitant in a duel, the Japanese kept letting them pass. At 1: 2, it took revenge with 1: 2 when he no longer gave Asano as an escort. Most ball contacts (134) in the game, but just not good in direct duels (43 percent duels won).
David Room: Just before the break, the winger was unstoppable on the left, breaking through again and again and initiating dangerous actions. An offensive run made it 1-0 when there was a penalty after a foul on space. In the second period, however, not much came from Leipzig either, he also failed to provide more protection defensively.
Germany’s David Raum scores a penalty for Germany in the World Cup match against Japan in the action.
Joshua Kimmich: The organizer in defensive midfield as national coach Hansi Flick would like – but only for half a time. Kimmich could no longer get a grip on midfield after the break and played quite incorrectly himself. The Bayern star was able to finish four times, but was often lacking in accuracy when shooting on goal.
Ilkay Gundogan: He was lucky when his loss of possession resulted in a goal in the eighth minute, but the scorer was ruled offside. After that, the 32-year-old caught himself, was the most dangerous German (six shots on goal) and stayed cool on the penalty kick to make it 1-0. However, Gündogan also went under in the second round, but the turning point in the game only came after he was substituted.
Serge Gnabry: After an inconspicuous first half, the winger appeared more often after the break, hitting the target after a minute and, among other things, preparing Hofmann’s top chance to make it 2-0. With six shots on goal, Gnabry was an asset – but with poor accuracy.
Thomas Müller: On his comeback, the veteran was everywhere and was the organizer of the German offensive. Müller appeared primarily as a preparer, but did not find himself in a dangerous final situation. When he was substituted, the attacking game lacked organization.
Jamal Musiala: The shooting star of the Bundesliga season was looking for the tight spaces and always found good solutions there. He almost scored the goal of the tournament in the 51st minute when he outplayed five Japanese strikers but fired over the target. It runs a little through the German evening, but in the end it was the decisive nuances that led to Musiala’s failure.
Germany’s Jamal Musiala prevails against Japan during the World Cup match.
Kai Havertz: The offensive player from Chelsea FC found it extremely difficult against the Japanese and mostly looked for free spaces in vain. 27 ball contacts are by far the fewest in the DFB team and there was bad luck when he was just offside when he supposedly made it 2-0 just before the half-time whistle.
Jonas Hofmann (67th for Müller): Three minutes after coming on as a substitute, the 30-year-old should have scored Germany’s second goal. Overall, the Gladbach made an unlucky game as a joker.
Leon Goretzka (67th for Gündogan): He had the best action in the 95th minute when he just missed making it 2-2 with a dropkick. Previously, many inaccuracies and a lack of control in midfield in conjunction with Kimmich.
Germany’s Leon Goretzka prevails in a tackle during the World Cup match against Japan.
Mario Götze (79th for Musiala): When he returned to the national team, the Frankfurter could hardly set any accents. Evidence of this is that Götze had only five ball contacts in a total of 18 minutes.
Nicholas Filling Pitcher (79.): The Bremen player was valuable as a passing station in the final phase with high balls, preparing Goretzka’s chance with a header, among other things. Füllkrug also had a shot himself, but missed the goal.
Youssoufa Moukoko (89th for Gnabry): At the age of 18 years and three days, the Dortmund striker is now the youngest German World Cup participant in history. However, the crowning of this record is missing, even Moukoko could not equalize in the final phase.