In a friendly international match, Japan dominated Euro 2024 hosts Germany with a 4-1 victory, putting pressure on coach Hansi Flick.
This defeat adds to the questions surrounding Flick’s future as Germany prepares to host the European Championships in nine months.
Japan, who previously contributed to Germany’s World Cup exit, scored two goals in each half.
Flick, despite the disappointment, remains defiant and believes he is the right manager for the job.
Germany captain Ilkay Gundogan acknowledged that the team is not performing well and that they need to reflect on their performance.
Japan’s manager, Hajime Moriyasu, expressed satisfaction with the win, especially considering the difficult situation in Germany.
Flick had promised to field the core team for the match but made some experimental choices, including starting Nico Schlotterbeck at left-back, a position he has rarely played before.
Germany equalized after Japan’s opener, but Japan quickly regained the lead and sealed their dominant performance with two late goals.
Germany may need to consider a managerial change, with former Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann potentially waiting in the wings.
Japan’s victory adds to their strong preparation for the upcoming Asia Cup in Qatar.
This article was updated 3 weeks ago
