Germany was defeated in their first World Cup group game for the second time as Japan came from behind to win at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Around the half-hour mark, Ilkay Gundogan scored from the penalty spot, and he also hit the post in the 60th minute.
After Manuel Neuer parried Takumi Minamino’s opening effort, Ritsu Doan equalised with 15 minutes remaining.
Takuma Asano completed the comeback eight minutes later, as the Germans became the latest team to go down in Qatar.
It was more World Cup heartbreak for four-time champions Germany, who arrived in Qatar seeking to rebound from their group-stage exit in the 2018 edition, when they were defending champions.
On Sunday, Hajime Moriyasu’s Japan will face Costa Rica in a crucial group encounter against Spain.
Germany was one of the teams whose captain was supposed to wear the anti-discrimination, rainbow-colored OneLove armband at the event before abandoning the idea when FIFA threatened athletic consequences.
And, shortly before kickoff, the players made their displeasure about the situation known by posing for a team shot with their hands over their mouths.
“Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice,” the German football association, the DFB, tweeted in response to that gesture. We maintain our stance.”
After the game began, Hansi Flick’s men were given an early fright when they lost control in the seventh minute, Japan rushed forward, and Celtic’s Daizen Maeda fired the ball past Neuer, only to have the flag raised for offside.
The very first notable effort at the other end came 10 minutes later, when Antonio Rudiger headed wide, and Japanese goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda then saved shots from Joshua Kimmich and Gundogan.
Just beyond the half-hour mark, Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton gave Germany a penalties when Gonda was adjudged to have fouled David Raum, which Manchester City midfielder Gundogan executed calmly.
Kimmich and Jamal Musiala both hit the crossbar, and Chelsea’s Kai Havertz had a close-range strike disallowed for offside before Maeda fired a header just past of Neuer’s goal in the first half. Daichi Kamada fired into the stand in the first half, while Musiala danced past several players in the Japan box before hitting his attempt too high.
Gundogan almost made it 2-0 after collecting Musiala’s feed and sending a low effort wide of the post.
In the 70th minute, Gonda produced a stop to deny Jonas Hofmann, followed by three saves in rapid succession to deny Serge Gnabry.
Germany scores 1-0. Japan: after a surprising setback, Flick’s team is once again facing an early World Cup elimination
