Thanks for joining me for this upset. Here is Jamie Jackson’s match report.
Fill your boots with Andy Hunter’s World Cup diary.
Some reaction from Japanese TV.
Interesting to see former Japan boss Takeshi Okada say on @fifawc_ABEMA that if Japan were a more experienced, canny footballing nation, they might have prioritised not losing today having won the first game as that would have left them in a strong position to qualify anyway.
— Ben Mabley（ベン・メイブリー） (@BenMabley) November 27, 2022
If Foden does not start against Wales, should we all turn our backs on England?
Japan go over to show their appreciation for their fans. They will not be as joyed to see them compared to the win over Germany.
Joe Cole says: “The goalkeeper Gonda, is going to be Gonda in the morning.”
Not for me, Clive.
Joe Cole is basically lost for words. Costa Rica do that to you.
Man of the match? The entire Costa Rica defence?
If World Cup football is your thing, do we have a treat for you? Belgium v Morocco live with Rob Smyth. Oooooof!
A great day for Costa Rica. They showed incredible commitment in defence to keep out Japan. Their goal was a touch fortunate but that’s football for you.
Updated
The cat is very much among the pigeons in Group E.
| Pos | Team | P | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spain | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | Japan | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 3 | Costa Rica | 2 | -6 | 3 |
| 4 | Germany | 1 | -1 | 0 |
Full time: Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Japan were the better team but were unable to break down Costa Rica who scored through their only shot of target of the match (and tournament). It is a great win for Costa Rica after their thrashing by Spain.
90+5 mins: The Japan fans are roaring their team on …
90+4 mins: Mitoma is having fun down the left, getting round his man again to pull it back into a dangerous area but Costa Rica throw bodies at the ball and get it clear.
Endo goes into the book for a late challenge. Fuller ends up off the pitch after heading clear and crawls back on. Costa Rica are bringing on a sub to waste some more time. Chacon is on for Campbell.
90+2 mins: Costa Rica are about to take timewasting to new levels, I suspect. Navas takes 45 minutes to perfectly line up his goal-kick. They get a throw-in inside the Japan half and it is sent towards the corner where Campbell tries to hold it up under pressure from three defenders in blue. Japan clear but then just launch it straight to Navas. They have lost their calm and composure, resulting in terrible decisions all round.
90 mins: Six minutes added on. Plenty of time for Japan.
88 mins: Mitoma beats Fuller on the left, he pulls the ball back to Kamada who sidefoots a shot at goal. Navas saves and then it is pinball in the box for a few seconds until the goalkeeper manages to regain possession.
They keep replaying the goal and it looks worse from Gonda with every viewing.
Updated
86 mins: Everyone in red is behind the ball, regardless of where Japan have possession on the pitch.
85 mins: Bennette tries to go beyond Itakura but the defender decides to bodycheck the Sunderland man, not that he will mind because Costa Rica are even more desperate to run down the clock.
Navas pings the ball straight to his opposite number. Not the smartest move.
83 mins: Costa Rica score with their first shot on target of the tournament. The goalkeeper will have to have a long, hard look of himself after that. It’s fair to say, I did not see that happening.
GOAL! Japan 0-1 Costa Rica (Fuller, 81)
RUDDY HELL! A mistake from Japan gifts the ball to Costa Rica, it is passed to Fuller who takes aim from the edge of the box. The shot has limited power and goes through the goalkeeper’s hands. What a shock!
Updated
80 mins: Costa Rica try to mount a counter attack but it ends because Bennette is incorrectly adjudged to be offside.
78 mins: Another Soma cross comes into the box. It is better directed, forcing a defender to turn the ball behind. Soma whips in the corner and it is headed away for a corner on the other side. The pressure is mounting on Costa Rica.
Kamada ends up in the deck after his teammate runs into him.
76 mins: Soma whips a cross into the box from the right but it overhit and drifts out for a throw-in. Costa Rica are doing their best to waste time here.
74 mins: Campbell is now playing as a central striker, mainly because he seems to be the best at holding up the ball for Costa Rica. An underrated skill.
He is fouled near the halfway and takes the free-kick himself, lumping the ball into the box. Waston tries to attack the ball but goes down after having his shirt pulled. The referee nor VAR are interested in the alleged offence.
72 mins: Calvo pulls back Junya Ito on the edge of the box just as he is about to pull the trigger. He goes into the book for his cynicism. John Hartson thinks he is lucky to not get sent off.
Kamada puts the ball down right on the 18-yard line. He pings it into the wall.
Updated
69 mins: Costa Rica are sticking to their task: doing everything they can to earn a 0-0 draw. They do get a cross into the box but Itakura is there to head clear.
67 mins: Another Japan change, means we now have two Itos on the pitch. This will be confusing. We have Hiroki Ito in defence and Junya Ito in midfield.
65 mins: Contreras and Torres are off. Sunderland’s Bennette and Nottingham Forest’s Aguilera are on.
Forest signed Aguilera on the recommendation of chief executive Dane Murphy.
63 mins: Soma takes the free-kick from the edge of the D but he curls the ball over the bar.
Mitoma is on for Yamane. I was at Wolves v Brighton recently and Mitoma was excellent. He could make a huge difference here.
Updated
61 mins: Costa Rica have 11 men behind the ball. They are just putting a wall up and making Japan try to knock it down. There is half an hour to go. I am not sure how sustainable it is.
Endo darts for the box but is crudely taken down from the side by Borges, who is rightly booked.
59 mins: Japan a very much on top here. All the play is in the Costa Rica half. The pressure is relieved by Ito pinging a long ball out for a goal kick.
57 mins: Campbell lumps a free-kick into the box … and it goes straight out for a goal kick. Classic Costa Rica.
Down the other end, Soma cuts in from the left and let’s fly from inside the area but his shot is wayward, landing closer to the corner flag than the net. At least it is a sign of intent.
55 mins: Kári Tulinius suggests: “When Hiroki Ito came on, he became the second VfB Stuttgart player on the field for Japan, alongside club captain Wataru Endo. I think this is the first time that there have been two Stuttgart players on the field in a non-German team at a World Cup. This match is so boring this might just be the most interesting thing about it.”
53 mins: Can Costa Rica match Japan’s increased tempo? I doubt it. Japan are attacking and pressing with greater intensity.
At least there is football to discuss now.
really enjoying your commentary. keeping us entertained in a long cross country drive
— andrew iyer (@andrewiyer) November 27, 2022
51 mins: Japan have already ad the ball in the box a few times since the break. The latest pinball results in Tejeda hitting the deck after getting a ball in the face. While he is treated, Costa Rica have a defensive debrief. They need to regroup.
49 mins: It is a new Japan in this half. Endo takes aim for the bottom corner from 18 yards but a diving block prevents it from reaching the net. The ball quickly comes back into the box where Asano is waiting to flick at goal but his header has no power and Navas takes hold. This is actually a football match now.
47 mins: Japan have brought Ito and Asano on for Nagatomo and Ueda. They are playing with a back three.
It’s already had an impact; Asano backheels the ball into Morita’s path, allowing him to shoot from the edge of the box. The shot is on target but Navas dives, rather spectacularly to push it clear. WE HAVE A SHOT ON TARGET PEOPLE!
Second half
Please let it be better.
I’ve had a coffee and a biscuit, at least. I used my Boston Red Sox mug, a team I have no association with or interest in.
I’d rather be that squashed possum.
@Will_Unwin
— phil withall (@phil_withall) November 27, 2022
I've been out walking the dogs, so have missed the first half. From your description of it, I'd say I had more fun getting the dogs to ignore a squashed possum than you've had watching the football..
Enjoy the second half!
Pundits: “Costa Rica are defending better than they did against Spain.”
Can’t wait for the second point.
Not sure what three pundits will have to say about that first half. This could be the perfect time for ITV to show Gabriel Clarke’s latest opus from the England training camp.
Half time: Japan 0-0 Costa Rica
No shots on target. Awful.
45 mins: Surely there can’t be much added on …
One minute! What a day.
44 mins: Yamane is cautioned for giving Campbell a kick on the back of his ankles for no reason whatsoever. Maybe the players are frustrated by how bad this all is.
Updated
42 mins: Contreras goes into the book for a late challenge on Yoshida, catching the Japan defender on the top of the boot with his studs. That is basically the first thing to have happened in this match.
They are currently showing a montage of aerial duels and tackles. I think we accept this is a poor match.
40 mins: The good news for Costa Rica is that they have kept out Japan for 40 minutes, so they will really struggle to ship seven from now on.
Updated
38 mins: I fear we are not far off John Hartson telling us an anecdote about his childhood to pass the time. I think we can expect a couple of Japan changes at half time if things continue in this fashion.
Endo takes aim from the edge of the box but Tejeda slides in to block.
36 mins: Costa Rica get the ball into the box, allowing Contreras to lay the ball off to Campbell 18 yards out. The former Arsenal man decides to shoot with the outside of his left boot but he loops high over the bar. It is a shot, though, so that’s pretty exciting.
34 mins: Good news! My order of wine and steak has been shipped.
On the pitch … plenty of sideways passing from Costa Rica and some half-hearted pressing from Japan.
32 mins: Very solid first game of the day vibes here. Not much actually happening.
30 mins: Costa Rica play some nice passes but they do not actually make it out of their own half. It is a bit of a struggle for them this match.
28 mins: It looks like we will not have a drinks break, which means no coffee for me. I have a toddler, I have been up a long time and there hasn’t been a shot on target in this match! I NEED COFFEE.
26 mins: Campbell is doing his best to hold the ball for Costa Rica because they are under a lot of pressure. The former Arsenal man is only 30, I assumed he was about 35. He is currently plying his trade in Mexico.
24 mins: I say that and then Contreras takes the ball into the box at pace but cannot slow himself down, resulting in a very weak cross while off-balance which is whacked clear.
22 mins: Costa Rica have not made it out of their have for a while. Japan are certainly on top and I am confident they will wear down those in red.
20 mins: Japan are clicking and play a couple of dangerous passes into the box but miscontrol and the alertness of Navas ensure they do not cause Costa Rica too many problems.
18 mins: Both teams are a long way from their opening fixture; Japan look a touch disjointed, while Costa Rica are plenty with plenty of commitment. Neither of these factors are making this into a cracking match.
Japan put together a good move, trying to find the space inside the box against a Costa Rica side that are playing very deeply. The attacks ends with a cross being chipped out of play.
Updated
16 mins: There are plenty of red seats on the lower levels around the pitch. It really does take away from the spectacle.
14 mins: Doan finds space inside the box and flashes a cracking cross along the six-yard box but there is no one there in a blue shirt to tap home. It seems to have awoken the crowd, at least.
12 mins: I wonder if the heat is making the game a touch slow at the moment. I am mainly looking forward to a rehydration break so I can go make a coffee. Come on, Mr Oliver, make it happen.
10 mins: Not much is actually happening. There is not currently much tempo or flow to the game.
8 mins: Japan the more patient in their early approach, passing it around calmly before trying to pick a gap. Costa Rica look keen to be as direct as possible.
6 mins: Contreras goes down holding his ankle after a misjudged challenge from Yamane. Moments later Campbell ducks and darts between two Japanese defenders but is caught on his thigh to earn a free-kick. Once again, the delivery is poor.
4 mins: The five changes Japan have made gives them a freshness after their win over Germany. They look keen to play on the front foot.
Costa Rica get the chance to send a free-kick into the box but it is easily cleared.
2 mins: Oh how I loathe the countdown to kick-off.
Japan are showing their intent and are completely on top, already putting in a couple of dangerous crosses from the left. A corner comes in from the left but is blocked by Borges’ back.
Updated
Kick off
Peep! Peep! Peep! Here we go!
The anthems are out of the way. We are closing in on kick-off.
We could have cooling breaks during today’s match, according to Clive Tyldesley. Could be a long old match.
There are plenty of empty seats inside the stadium but that should not be a surprise by this stage of the tournament.
Kubo, Tomiyasu, Mitoma and Minamino on the bench. That’s some decent strength in depth on offer to Japan.
Kári Tulinius emails: “Not to diminish Danny Mills brilliant long-range bomb against Everton, but surely his finest moment was playing in the Champions League semi-final against Valencia in 2001. Incidentally, there he faced Didier Deschamps in the latter’s last ever match. That said, the goal is probably his most remembered moment, and we’ll be lucky if today’s match is graced with its equal.”
#onthisday in 2005, remember when Danny Mills did this against @Everton? #mcfc pic.twitter.com/L5WZM52cSA
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 2, 2015
ITV’s Angus Scott shows that is possible to attend four games in a day in Doha. Good to see there are a few positives at this World Cup.
The Costa Rican tourist board are putting ads out on TV. It does look a lot more inviting than a trip to Qatar.
I’d probably just text her, mate.
What else is happening today? Our World Cup briefing will tell you.
In the ITV studio is the Guardian’s very own Karen Carney (wahey) and the Telegraph’s Joe Cole (booooooo).
When I think of early Sunday kick-offs, attending Manchester City v Everton in 2005 was my earliest start time: 11.15 kick-off. Admittedly, I did see the best moment of Danny Mills’ career, so it was worth it.
Starting lineups
Japan (4-2-3-1): Gonda; Yamane, Itakura, Yoshida, Nagatomo; Endo, Morita; Doan, Kamada, Soma; Ueda
Costa Rica (4-2–2-2): Navas; Watson, Calvo, Duarte, Oviedo; Tejeda, Borges; Fuller, Torres; Campbell, Contreras
For those interested … Michael Oliver is the referee for today’s big match.
Japan to make history?
The Costa Rican fans have not been subdued by their opening day 7-0 loss.
What do you think of when someone mentions Costa Rican football? There is only one answer. Courtesy of Michael Butler.
Barney Ronay and Tom Jenkins went for a wander around Lusail. It seems interesting …
Preamble
Japan shocked Germany in the opening game, while Costa Rica were roundly thrashed 7-0 by Spain. There is surely only one outcome here today. Costa Rica beating Japan at this stage would arguably be a bigger surprise than what was dished out to the Germans.
By the end of the day, Japan could be into the knockout stages of the tournament and Germany plotting an early return home to please their club managers. Costa Rica, however, have a point to prove and will not want to succumb to another bewildering defeat. They rarely make it to this stage, so will want to make some good memories to go with the ones that involve Gavi and Dani Olmo.
Japan thoroughly deserved their victory last time out and will be keen to build on that today. Their squad is incredibly talented and they will be confident they can do the business.
Let’s hope for a Sunday morning (UK time) cracker.
Kick-off: 10am GMT.
