Switzerland

Germany beaten 4-1 by Japan in friendly to deepen crisis for Euro 2024 hosts

09-Sep-2023 21:47:48 | The Guardian

• Germany 1-4 Japan (Sané 19; Ito 11, Ueda 22, Asano 90, Tanaka 90)
• North Macedonia hold Italy to 1-1 draw in Euro 2024 qualifying

Germany slumped to a shock 4-1 home loss to Japan in their friendly on Saturday, deepening the sense of crisis hanging over the Euro 2024 hosts. Late goals from Takuma Asano and Ao Tanaka completed an embarrassing final scoreline for the hosts in Wolfsburg. It was the team’s third straight defeat, and fourth in five matches, with fewer than nine months to go before the tournament begins.

Junya Ito silenced the home crowd in the 11th minute, turning in a low cross at the far post. The hosts quickly bounced back, levelling in the 19th minute following a superb passing move and a left-footed finish from Leroy Sané.

Relief for the head coach, Hansi Flick, was short-lived as the visitors struck again just three minutes later. The Feyenoord forward Ayase Ueda wrong-footed the Germany keeper, Marc-André ter Stegen, after a neat move down the right wing.