Germany, the host nation for Euro 2024, faced a shocking 4-1 defeat against Japan in an international friendly, further intensifying concerns about the team’s form just nine months before the continental tournament. This loss marks Germany’s third consecutive defeat, and their recent struggles on the international stage have raised doubts about the future of coach Hansi Flick.
The four-time World Cup champions, who were eliminated in the group stage of last year’s World Cup after a defeat to Japan, have won only four of their last 17 international matches, leading to uncertainty surrounding Flick’s leadership. Germany’s upcoming match against World Cup finalists France on Tuesday adds to the pressure on the team.
Germany’s captain, Ilkay Gundogan, acknowledged Japan’s superiority in the match, stating, “We have to be honest and say that Japan were better. They let the ball run, they played the right spaces, carved out their goals. They were better.” He also pointed out that Germany made too many individual mistakes and conceded that they are currently not on par with top teams like Japan.
Despite a strong start, Germany lacked a clear plan, confidence, and energy throughout the match, committing errors and allowing Japan to dominate. The Japanese team scored with their first significant opportunity, silencing the home crowd in the 11th minute. Germany equalized in the 19th minute with a well-executed passing sequence and a left-footed finish by Leroy Sane.
However, Japan swiftly regained the lead just three minutes later when Ayase Ueda capitalized on a move down the right wing. Germany’s goalkeeper, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, prevented Japan from extending their lead with several crucial saves.
While Japan had additional opportunities to score, Asano secured their second consecutive victory over Germany with a goal in the 90th minute. They added another goal in stoppage time with Ao Tanaka’s header, sealing a remarkable 4-1 win.
Germany’s recent string of disappointing results raises concerns about their readiness to host Euro 2024, and they face a challenging road ahead as they aim to regain their form before the tournament.
