FIFA World Cup 2022: In yet another unexpected outcome, Japan shockingly upsets four-time champions Germany 2-1.

 Kou Itakura of Japan joins Takehiro Tomiyasu and Daniel Yabuki in jubilation following the World Cup match between Germany and Japan on November 23 at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar. The Reuters

Japan did the same, fending off Germany's ferocious attempts to salvage a point from the Group 'E' opener for both teams on Wednesday, less than 24 hours after Saudi Arabia lit up the FIFA World Cup with a shocking upset of Argentina.

Takuma Asano eliminated Nico Schlotterbeck from the equation with a first touch for the ages after getting the ball wide out on the right from a free kick in his own area. Asano continued to run with the goal in his sights, but the shooting angle was getting more congested. For Asano to defeat Manuel Neuer, a monster shot was required.

Asano, who came on as a replacement just before the hour mark, accomplished that. The ball made a clean connection with the goalie before crashing into the net's ceiling and bringing down the Khalifa Stadium's roof.

Seven minutes remained to accomplish a surprising victory for Japan over Germany, and the throngs of their supporters behind the goal were now urging them on to finish the feat.

The Asian team came back from a goal behind in the second half to win, just like on Tuesday. Only eight minutes had passed since Japan's draw until Asano's winning goal. Another replacement was performed. Japan had been pressing, and when Neuer deflected Takumi Minamino's cross away, Ritsu Doan—who had been on the field for less than four minutes at the time—was the first to react and put the ball in the back of the net.

Following Japan's equalizer, Germany coach Hansi Flick introduced striker Niclas Fuellkrug and attacker Mario Goetze, who scored the jaw-dropping extra-time winner for Die Mannschaft in 2014 final in Brazil, to give his team some motivation and stop the Japanese momentum.

The Germans were, however, completely stunned when Asano scored. They put a lot of pressure on the Japanese goal, but Shuichi Gonda and the defense held firm.

When questioned about the impact of Germany on Japanese football, Japan's coach Hajime Moriyasu responded, "I believe it's a momentous moment, to put it mildly, a historical triumph." "This has been helped by the fact that we have seven players that play in the Bundesliga."

Germany was allegedly healed by time. They appeared to have overcome the staleness that had taken hold after being renewed, refreshed, and placed under a new coaching structure. When they arrived in Qatar for the World Cup, they had lost just once in their previous 16 games thanks to the infusion of new blood and some older heads who were reinstated under Hansi Flick.

But it doesn't seem like Russia's demons are leaving. The memory of Neuer frantically trying to get back into his box as Son Heung-Min sprinted off to score and seal a memorable win for South Korea and put the icing on the cake for the holders is still vivid. Then, as holders, they had limped out of the World Cup at the group stage.

Germany enjoyed a strong start against another East Asian team in the 45,000-seat stadium in the center of Qatar's capital, but they received a scare when Japan appeared to have scored in the eighth minute only to have it ruled off-side.

Gonda was doing a great job of keeping Japan in the match by deflecting shot after shot, but it was his error that allowed Germany to take the lead. David Raum was knocked to the ground by Gonda as he attempted to retrieve a ball in the box just past the halfway point.

Gonda, the game's player of the match, said that "he fell without much contact" while having no issues with the official's call.

Ilkay Gündoan made the conversion from the penalty spot, and after Japan took the lead, Germany bombarded the Japanese goal in waves but failed to produce anything.

Flick, feeling defeated, remarked, "We had good possibilities to score after we earned the initial goal but I think that Japan were really efficient. "We need to do better and stay away from those errors. We have a crucial match against Spain coming up, so we need to recover quickly.

After losing to Mexico in their opening match, Germany's Russian campaign came to a crashing halt. Flick rejected claims that this defeat had any resemblance to that match from four years prior. However, the energy that reverberated throughout Khalifa Stadium was that of Japan, which Flick wished his team had displayed.