'We need to forget win over Germany' - head coach Moriyasu
Japan take on Costa Rica in Group E of World Cup 2022 this morning as they hope to secure a spot in the last 16 today. Their opening game versus Germany was one of the shocks of the tournament as Hajime Moriyasu’s men fought from a goal down to win 2-1 thanks to two goals in the second half. That victory puts Japan on three points and another win today will see them qualify if Spain avoid defeat to Germany in the late kick off.
They face a Costa Rica side low on confidence after they were soundly beaten 7-0 by Spain last time out. The Central American side have only reached the knockout rounds once since 1990 and failed to win a single game in Russia 2018 which, based on the evidence of their first game, looks likely to happen again during this tournament.
There are calls to make over personnel for both managers. It was Japan’s substitutes who changed the game against so will Moriyasu stick or twist with his starting XI?
Costa Rica boss, Luis Fernando Suarez, has a similar call to make – but for different reasons as his entire team were woeful against Spain – and he will be hoping that whoever starts will play better if his side have any hope of earning a point in this group.
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Kick off: Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
Costa Rica get the ball rolling to start this Group E fixture. They send the ball up the pitch but it’s won by Japan who burst forward down the left and win themselves an early corner.
Japan vs Costa Rica
Here come the players.
Costa Rica are hoping to bounce back from their embarrassing loss to Spain last time out. They shipped seven goals in that game but will fancy themselves against Japan this morning.
Japan know that a win will give them a fantastic chance of reaching the last 16. That will be there goal for today.
Japan vs Costa Rica
Kick off is fast approaching with the players having completed their warm-ups. Which way will this game go?
(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)
(Getty Images)
Japan vs Costa Rica
Against Spain, Costa Rica didn’t manage a single shot, with this being the second instance of a side failing to record a shot in a World Cup match since Opta has had this data (from 1966).
The other occasion was also Costa Rica when they faced against Brazil in 1990.
Meanwhile, Japan faced 26 shots in their 2022 World Cup opener against Germany, the most they have ever faced in a match at the tournament.
Japan vs Costa Rica
Since beating both Uruguay and Italy in their group in 2014, Costa Rica are winless in seven World Cup games with four draws and three losses.
They have failed to score in five of those matches.
Costa Rica lost their opening match 7-0 to Spain, conceding as many goals in that match as their previous eight games at the tournament combined beforehand.
Japan vs Costa Rica
After beating Germany 2-1, Japan are looking to win back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time since 2002 when they defeated Russia and Tunisia.
They have never won both of their first two fixtures of a single edition at the World Cup finals.
(REUTERS)
Japan vs Costa Rica
Japan have never lost in four previous meetings with Costa Rica in all competitions, winning three and drawing once. They’ve scored exactly three goals in all three victories in this run.
However, Costa Rica won their only previous World Cup game against an Asian nation, beating China 2-0 in 2002.
The Japanese are putting the rest of us to shame at the World Cup
“Videos on social media showed Japanese fans filling rubbish bags with litter from around their seats after the full-time whistle. The Japan players were also praised for leaving their changing room “spotless” after the match.
“I wasn’t surprised; but I will admit to having some small bias. I lived in Tokyo for two years, some 20 years ago, and the widespread focus on mindfulness (by which I don’t mean Insta-inspired yoga chanting, or gong baths; but being mindful of the people around you – and your environment) was both obvious and inspiring, even then.”
Why does a few fans doing something achingly simple feel so alien to us?
Latest World Cup odds
Following their impressive 2-1 win over Germany, Japan are now odds on favourites to defeat Costa Rica this morning and move to the top of Group E.
Japan vs Costa Rica match odds
Argentina party in dressing room for an hour after World Cup win over Mexico
Argentina celebrated wildly for over an hour after the full-time whistle at the Lusail Stadium after their crucial 2-0 win over Mexico at the Qatar World Cup.
Goals by their captain Lionel Messi and substitute Enzo Fernandez sealed the victory and their first points of the competition, having been stunned 2-1 by Saudi Arabia in the shock of the tournament earlier this week.
Argentina may still need to beat Poland or at the very least draw in their final game of the group in order to progress to the knockout rounds, but that did not stop them from celebrating in their dressing room.
Video footage surfaced online showing the players chanting, banging the walls and dancing on tables as the revelled in the result. Messi was late to collect his man of the match award as well as his post-match media duties.
Video footage surfaced online showing the players chanting, banging the walls and dancing on tables as the revelled in the result
