Other than the PK goal, this game has a feel of Germany 2018 ... they've created enough good chances to score, but can't seem to put them away.
Since I've been wrong about pretty much every other result, I'm gonna gloat about this one. See my comment in the prediction thread about this Germany squad. Japan rope-a-doped them. Great tactics. All credit to Japan.
You can say Argentina are too arrogant so they lose. But Germany look serious, still lose. Japan play great game, as i expect
Japan learned a few things since that crushing loss to Belgium in 2018 . Brazil play them in a friendly recently, and I felt like they had a different vibe to them. More pragmatic and less careless
I feel Canada is more likely to get a result against Belgium than Los Ticos against La Roja. At least, I hope that's the case, anyway.
Spain start with Barca 3 man midfield: Pedri - Busquest- Gavi. Let see what is the difference between Spain and Barcelona.
Germany playing so many unknown players... Never heard of Schlotterbeck, Raum, Fullkrug, Hoffmanm, Moukoko and I've definitely heard of him but why Gotze? Leaving Sane on the bench weird.
I like how Luis Enrique plays true tiki taka, it's gorgeous to watch in full flow. Pedri, Gavi and Busquets looking far more comfortable and involved with this approach too.
Too soon to know. Costa Rica playing exactly how NOT to play against Spain! No pressing, no hustle, outnumbered in midfield. Really poor tactics. So we won't learn anything about this Spain team until the Germany and Japan games.
That Gavi goal off the great pass from Morata and it all began with a great run from Balde past 3 defenders: https://dubz.co/v/nza7s9
They had 10 great minutes and Germany collapsed like a bunch of kids. I wouldn't say that Japan had a great game. Most of the first half they ran like headless chicken. But their manager put the right pieces together in the end. Germany looked like they couldn't score again even if they play for another 90 minutes. Deserved win for Japan but they did not look like a 2nd Saudi Arabia.