Mondial-2022: stoppage for Japan, cooled by Costa Rica

"Complacency has no place," warned Blue Samurai coach Hajime Moriyasu, but his players seemed to hold their shots much more against the Ticos than against the Mannschaft in Group E.

With five entrants, including the line of attack, the incumbents thus appeared in great difficulty to impose their game due to an astonishing lack of technical accuracy against a wait-and-see opponent and grouped together.

Returning with better intentions and some accommodations, the Japanese failed to turn the tide and replicate what they achieved in the second half against Germany. On the contrary, it was even goalkeeper Gonda who got tangled up on Fuller's goal (81st), Costa Rica's only shot on target.

A full card in the first two matches, which they have never achieved before in the World Cup, however seemed within their reach with a little more application. In the absence of automatic qualification, this would have allowed them to approach the last meeting with serenity against Spain, opposed to Germany in the evening during the shock of the group of death.

Thrashed 7-0 by La Roja, their opponent did not ask for so much and had come above all to save honor and prevent Keylor Navas from cracking again. On the contrary, the veteran goalkeeper reassured himself by carrying out some class interventions (46, 88).

Emboldened, Costa Rica put an end to seven games without a World Cup win since 2014, when the selection had reached the quarters. The Ticos are still very far from such a final but at least they can believe in it again before their next duel against Germany.