Germany haunted again by ghosts of Russia 2018, early elimination from World Cup

From dance to Japan to relive the ghosts of 2018. An eight-minute burst put the Qatar World Cup upside down, this time the victim was Germany.

The team of Hansi flick he went from having an impeccable, dominant and winning first half, with an average of Manuel Neuer Bored spectator, about 15 minutes from the final nightmare, with the goalkeeper defeated twice in a row and looking in the opposing area for a header that never comes.

How to explain? Difficult, World Cup things perhaps, the confident attitude of the Germans perhaps. The truth is like Saudi Arabia against ArgentinaJapan found unexpected light in a dark tunnel and held on with admirable conviction to strike the second big blow of this World Cup.

None of this could be expected in the first half, where Germany showed the team idea of ​​​​Flick, not so common in historical German tanks. Playing from below under orders from a Gundogan brain ea Jumal Musiala daring, touching even too much before kicking on goal or creating a clear goal situation. Ball possession scored over 70 percent, he was always white with a black chest.

The 1-0 was more than equal to what Germany did, who played dressed as a candidate.

In the second half the pace slowed down a bit and Flick sent him into the game a wrong message: At 21 minutes he eliminated Gündogan and Thomas Müller. As if the result was closed. It is true that goalkeeper Suichi Gonda had already made epic saves by then, but the Japanese never give up.

Suddenly the wind changed and Neuer had to lower his left arm once, in a great save, and the second save is no longer a yellow card: it ended up in the net by Ritsu Doan, who had just entered, who took advantage of the rebound. The Japanese coach, Hajime Moriyasu, was not wrong with the changes.

30 minutes go by and Germany is invaded by the ghosts of Russia 2018. He has lost his recent memory and has started playing long, with balls and crosses. A sharp counter-punch from Takuma Asano, also brought in from the bench, turned the German confusion into desperation.

that time he suffered the curse of the world champions who, like France in 2002, Italy in 2010 or Spain in 2014, have not progressed from the first round to the World Cup after the consecration.

It happened to the Germans, four times world champions, in Russia. They lost in their opening game 1-0 to Mexico, beat Sweden 2-1 and lost again to South Korea 2-0, sealing a surprise elimination. It was the worst performance in their history, they had never dropped from 10th place (1938), that time they finished 22nd.

Neuer, Gundogan, Müller were in that team. At Khalifa Stadium, Flick had Jumal Musiala, 19, up in the 78th minute, and gave rookie Youssofa Moukoko, 18, a chance in the quarterfinals. end and that the ghosts of a first-round elimination were emboldened to haunt him so quickly.

On Sunday at 16:00 (Argentina time) they will play a final with Spain, who destroyed Costa Rica in a history-making 7-0 victory. Those of come in tune Luis Enrico but they should not be trusted. Group E also started with an earthquake.

Doha, Qatar. Special delivery.