World Cup 2022 news today: Flick declares the game against Spain to be the final

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In added time to the defeat against Japan, Manuel Neuer also came forward

Photo: Ricardo Mazalan/AP

This article will be continuously updated.

National coach Flick: "We don't have a shot left"

10.25 a.m .:

National coach Hansi Flick has declared the second World Cup group game against Spain to be the final.

"We don't have a free shot anymore, the missed shot we had yesterday, that's how we have to tackle the whole thing," said Flick one day after the 1-2 draw against Japan.

"Many things" must have done better against the Spaniards.

"In retrospect, you have to say that even if a lot was positive over 70 minutes, in the end, if you go into detail, it wasn't what we imagined," said Flick about the Japan game.

“We have to turn the screws and try to make things better.” Each individual player must look to make the game “simply better for themselves”.

"We have a lot to do," said Flick.

Leroy Sané could then be there.

The Bayern winger was injured against Japan.

»Leroy is on the pitch right now, training alone.

That's positive," said Flick.

Norway also refuses to follow Infantino

10.20 a.m .:

Like the DFB, the Norwegian association, headed by Fifa critic Lise Klaveness, refused to follow the World Association President Gianni Infantino on the way to his re-election.

"We at the NFF don't trust that Infantino is the right leader to take us forward," Klaveness told Norwegian broadcaster NRK.

Klaveness regrets that there are no opposing candidates from Europe for the elections in March next year.

The NFF had made "many attempts" to get someone to run - but all had refused.

She didn't want to run for office herself.

The deadline for candidacy has already expired.

Since the controversial Infantino can count on a lot of support from all over the world, his re-election is considered certain.

Conflict with Fifa: top-level talks between Neuendorf and Infantino

9.47 a.m .:

In the conflict between the German Football Association and Fifa, there was an exchange between Presidents Bernd Neuendorf and Gianni Infantino about the first game against Japan.

The DFB confirmed this to the news agency sid.

The association did not want to disclose anything about the content of the conversation.

"Bernd Neuendorf has always emphasized that despite the opposing positions, it is important to remain in dialogue with Fifa," said the DFB.

Since Neuendorf "sat in the immediate vicinity of the FIFA President" during the game, there was of course a conversation.

We do not comment on the content«.

With regard to further measures, the DFB and its allied associations are still in consultation.

According to the DFB, this is about, among other things, the “dealing of the security authorities with fans who wear rainbow symbols – as is well known, there have been various incidents here”.

"Fortunately, no further reprisals were reported to the German fan embassy on the fringes of the Japan game."

9.23 million people see Germany's defeat on ARD

9.28 a.m .

: Germany’s 2-1 defeat by Japan was seen by 9.23 million people in the ARD live broadcast.

Although the market share was 59.7 percent, far fewer people have watched the public broadcasters than four years ago during the World Cup in Russia.

At that time, 25.97 million viewers (MA: 81.6 percent) watched the 0-1 draw against Mexico on ZDF.

However, the game took place on a Sunday at 5 p.m. and was therefore better broadcast than the game yesterday at 2 p.m.

It is also unclear how many people watch the World Cup games on the MagentaTV streaming service, which broadcasts all 64 World Cup games.

Nevertheless, at the World Cup in Qatar, the trend continues that the coverage on linear television lags behind the results of the last tournaments.

The evening game between Belgium and Canada (1-0) was watched by 4.33 million on ARD.

Late in the afternoon, 3.89 million tuned in to the match between Spain and Costa Rica.

The zero number between Croatia and Morocco recorded only 1.32 million viewers.

In numerous surveys conducted in Germany before the tournament, many people stated that they did not want to watch the World Cup in Qatar.

Mexico fan allegedly tried to smuggle alcohol into stadium in binoculars

8.28 a.m .:

Alcohol is only allowed in the VIP box during the World Cup.

A Mexican fan has reportedly made a curious attempt to still enjoy a liquor during a game.

Videos posted on social media show a fan's binoculars being inspected by law enforcement rather than being approved by them.

The binoculars are said to have been prepared in such a way that the man could use them to smuggle alcohol into the stadium.

Matthew on the false start of the World Cup: background noise disturbs concentration

8.24 a.m .:

Germany’s record national player Lothar Matthäus sees the concentration of the DFB selection on the sporting tasks disturbed by the background noise.

"The many debates about human rights, captain's armband, the fans are allowed to drink a beer or not - that doesn't leave the players untouched," said Matthäus the TV station RTL.

He had the feeling that in the 2-1 defeat against Japan “many players were blocked in the second half.

Make a mark - yes.

But the players are at the World Cup to play football and represent us on the pitch.

Germany has discussed a lot about these things and how to send messages.

Concentration automatically decreases," emphasized the 61-year-old.

In the second group game against Spain, Matthäus expects the DFB team to improve.

"We have to push ourselves to the limit, we have to play compactly, we have to play with self-confidence and, above all, we have to take advantage of our chances," demanded the 1990 world champion. There must be a team on the pitch "that gives it 90 minutes".

"World shocked": Japan's media celebrate victory over Germany

8.12 a.m .:

Japan’s spectacular opening victory caused spontaneous celebrations on the streets of Tokyo.

After the final whistle, which sounded at midnight Japanese time, fans and fans met with flags and golden World Cup trophies in the metropolis and celebrated one of the biggest surprise coups that Japan's footballers have ever managed in the popular nightlife district of Shibuya.

And the local media were also enthusiastic.

"Japan shocked the world," said the sports portal Nikkansport after the success.

Costa Rica World Cup players: Must not faint

7.20 a.m .:

For Costa Rica’s international, the preparation of the 0:7 defeat against Spain will certainly not be an easy matter.

Already on Sunday it is all or nothing for the Central Americans.

You have to get back up, demanded defender Kendall Watson.

"We mustn't faint and think it's all over," emphasized the 34-year-old: "There are still two games left."

On Sunday it's against Japan, in the group final the DFB-Elf is the opponent.

Worst-case scenario for both teams, it could end up being a meaningless game on December 1st.

"I have to work with this result and think very carefully about what I say to my players to lift their spirits," Costa Rica coach Luis Fernandez Suárez said after the game against Spain Doha.

"It hits us hard as a team," defender Óscar Duarte also commented on the bankruptcy: "But we still have two games and will get the maximum out of ourselves, until death.

We have nothing to lose."

Davies receives encouragement after a missed penalty

6.33 a.m .:

For Bayern star Alphonso Davies there were comforting words from coach John Herdman after his unconverted penalty against Belgium.

“Phonzie is of enormous importance to us and has a great future ahead of it.

Even if he didn't score today, he'll still score a lot for us," said the 47-year-old.

His task will be to keep his team's level of courage at the same level as against Belgium ahead of Sunday's second group game against runners-up Croatia.

Canadians are not worried about their self-confidence.

Because the performance in the first World Cup game since 1986 was good, just not the result.

Canada was fun and should have won many new fans with the refreshing performance.

England keeper Pickford: The issue of binding "was taken out of our hands"

6:21 a.m .:

For goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, England had no choice when it came to the multicolored captain’s armband.

“We had discussions about the bandage as a team.

We all wanted him (Harry Kane) to wear them.

But the decision was taken out of our hands,” Pickford said in a media session in Al-Wakrah.

'If Harry wore them and got yellow and maybe missed the next game, it wouldn't be ideal for us.

It was just taken out of our hands,' added Pickford.

Japanese celebrate after victory over Germany Oracle Otter Taiyo

6.10 a.m .:

A river otter named Taiyo is celebrated in Japan after defeating Germany.

Taiyo, who lives in Maxell Aqua Park Shinagawa in Tokyo, had predicted Japan's victory against the DFB team.

The eight-year-old male did this by placing a miniature soccer ball in a blue bucket with the Japanese flag on it the day before.

Taiyo ignored the red bucket with the German flag and a yellow one that said 'tie' on it.

Delighted by Japan's 2-1 win, Japanese soccer fans raved about the otter online, calling him "amazing" and "extremely competent."

Others were hoping he would make a prediction for Japan's next group game against Costa Rica on Sunday.

svs/dpa/Reuters