"We are under pressure": Germany coach Hansi Flick laments World Cup 2022 defeat to Japan

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Germany succumbed to a Japan comeback at World Cup 2022, with Hansi Flick pulling no punches over his sides' mistakes

Germany coach Hansi Flick laments World Cup 2022 defeat to Japan: Germany's head coach Hansi Flick gestures during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar on November 23, 2022.
(Image credit: Serhat Cagdas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Hansi Flick admitted that Germany have put themselves "under pressure" after their shock loss to Japan in their opening game of the World Cup.

Germany had looked on course for victory at the Khalifa International Stadium, leading 1-0 through an Ilkay Gundogan penalty, but goals from Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano turned the match on its head in the final 15 minutes – giving Japan arguably the greatest result in their history.

Defeat left the German fans stunned, and left them with real work to do to progress from the group – their next fixture is against 2010 champions Spain.

Hansi Flick, Head Coach of Germany reacts during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Germany's head coach Hansi Flick has strong words following defeat to Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar (Image credit: Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)

"Of course with this defeat and zero points, we are under pressure, there's no question about that," Germany boss Flick said post-match.

"We can only blame ourselves – we have to make sure we can come out of this, we have to be courageous, we need the aggression in the game that's necessary at a World Cup.

"It's a great disappointment. We were on the right path in the first half, we had 78 per cent possession and were ahead, then we had good opportunities in the second half and didn't take advantage of them.

"Japan were simply more efficient today – we made mistakes we should never make, especially at a World Cup. I'm pretty sure we can do better – we have to do better. We have the quality, but we have to keep it up for 90 minutes. It's a missed opportunity and a bad start for us."

Both of Japan's goalscorers came on as substitutes, and both play their club football in Germany, as did six of the Asian side's starting line-up.

Takuma Asano of Japan celebrates scoring their second goal with their teammates during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium on November 23, 2022 in Doha, Qatar.

Takuma Asano of Japan celebrates scoring their second goal with his teammates (Image credit: David Ramos - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

"Our players fought really well," said Japan boss Hajime Moriyasu. "In the last part of the game, they came with the full power – maybe if it was Japan before, we would have lost in that situation. But many of our players went to Germany and every day they grew in that league.

"This was not only down to the players and the staff, but also the Japanese people and the supporters. Everyone contributed to this win, so thank you very much.

"This is a big win, but it's not the end. We will reflect on it and prepare for the next game against Costa Rica."

Chris Flanagan
Chris Flanagan
Senior Staff Writer

Chris joined FourFourTwo in 2015 and has reported from 20 countries, in places as varied as Jerusalem and the Arctic Circle. He's interviewed Pele, Zlatan and Santa Claus (it's a long story), as well as covering the World Cup, Euro 2020 and the Clasico. He previously spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist, and completed the 92 in 2017.