NewsSportsGermany stunned again 4-1 by Japan as Flick frets over job
Germany stunned again 4-1 by Japan as Flick frets over job
Germany suffered a 4-1 defeat at home to Japan in a friendly match on Saturday, adding significant pressure on coach Hansi Flick. The beleaguered German team, preparing for Euro 2024 which they will host next June, has encountered a challenging period with five winless matches, including four defeats.
Beleaguered Germany lost 4-1 at home to Japan in a friendly on Saturday to massively pile the pressure on coach Hansi Flick.
Germany, playing friendlies before hosting Euro 2024 next June, have now failed to win in their previous five matches - including four defeats. Pundits are saying it is the biggest ever crisis in German football.
Japan went ahead on 11 minutes when Yukinari Sugawara fizzed in a low cross for Junya Ito but Antonio Rüdiger got the last touch as it flew past Marc-André ter Stegen, who could maybe have done better.
Leroy Sané levelled soon after with a guided left-foot finish after a fine move, but Ayase Ueda netted with a touch of fortune just as quickly following another Sugawara cross.
A terrible error by Robin Gosens late on ultimately led to Takuma Asano making it 3-1 and Ao Tanaka's free header in injury time completed the humiliation.
Germany next meet World Cup runners-up France in Dortmund on Tuesday when questions over Flick's tenure will intensify.
