Luis Fernando Suarez stated his Costa Rica group have been “still very much alive” at the World Cup after a 1-0 win over Japan on Sunday blew Group E large open – and handed a possible lifeline to Germany.
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Japan, who shocked four-time champions Germany 2-1 of their opener in Qatar, would have taken a large stride in the direction of the final 16 with a win.
Instead they laboured within the first half towards a Costa Rica facet who have been hammered 7-0 by Spain, then defender Keysher Fuller scored within the 81st minute with a deflected strike on the counterattack.
It was Costa Rica’s first shot on the right track at this World Cup and left them, leaders Spain and Japan all on three factors. Spain face Germany later Sunday in a bunch broadly seen because the hardest at the event.
“These players did amazing things today. I will not talk about technique or tactics. Today I need to value and appreciate what they have done to get this win,” stated Suarez, whose facet meets Germany on Thursday.
“We weren’t useless yesterday and now we’re nonetheless very a lot alive. Nobody can neglect about us but so we will nonetheless dream.
“People thought we were already out but we are in this together.”
-Shock finish –
Japan made 5 adjustments to the group which surprised Germany as coach Hajime Moriyasu made full use of his 26-man squad.
In temperatures of 32 levels Celsius (90 levels Fahrenheit) at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Japan instantly went on the assault and gained a nook inside 30 seconds.
Suarez made simply two adjustments to the group thumped by Spain, Gerson Torres and 34-year-old centre-back Kendall Waston taking their locations in an ageing XI which featured 4 gamers from the 2014 World Cup quarter-finals.
But Japan’s early promise melted within the Doha solar and the primary shot at purpose — a tame effort which sailed excessive and large — didn’t come till 10 minutes from half-time via Costa Rica’s Joel Campbell.
A dreary first half got here to a detailed with “Los Ticos” having had extra of the ball however neither facet mustering a shot on the right track.
Moriyasu had seen sufficient and made a double change at the break, one among them the introduction of Bundesliga-based striker Takuma Asano, who scored the winner towards the Germans.
The Blue Samurai have been instantly extra incisive and midfielder Hidemasa Morita drew the primary correct save of the match inside seconds of the restart.
It was all Japan because the match ticked into the final 10 minutes in entrance of 41,000 spectators.
Costa Rica had finished nothing for many of the recreation as an attacking power, however 9 minutes from the top of regular time they stole it when Fuller’s shot took a deflection and looped in.
– Lack of high quality –
Moriyasu, whose facet face Spain in a frightening final group recreation, nonetheless fancies Japan’s probabilities of reaching the knockout spherical.
“Of course Spain will be tough but there is a good chance for us to win. We will be well prepared and will go into the match with confidence,” he stated.
Moriyasu denied that his males have been drained after their exertions towards Germany and defended making so many adjustments to his line-up.
“In the first half Costa Rica didn’t do great either, both of us struggled to control the game,” he stated.
“It was a complicated game and maybe both sides lacked some quality in the first half.”
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