Wednesday’s slate of World Cup games started off slow, but it picked up in a big way with Japan’s come-from-behind win over Germany, followed by Spain’s record-breaking 7-0 win over Costa Rica.
Here’s everything that happened in the World Cup today.
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Japan’s Ritsu Doan celebrates after scoring his side’s opening goal during the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Morocco 0, Croatia 0
Morocco and Croatia put on a defensive clinic Wednesday, but unfortunately that meant yet another scoreless draw. At the 2018 World Cup, there was only one scoreless draw throughout the tournament. This year, there has already been three.
Where Morocco and Croatia finish in the group ultimately depends on their results vs. Belgium, but neither team can afford to take Canada lightly either. The competition in Group F is stiff.
Japan 2, Germany 1
It wasn’t the upset that Argentina-Saudi Arabia was, but Japan’s comeback win against Germany had twice the drama as Monday’s match. After trailing for 75 minutes, Japan got two late goals from substitutes Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano. Japan’s place in the knockout stage is far from cemented — it still has to face a hungry Spain side — but it was an incredible result nonetheless.
For Germany, Wednesday marked its third consecutive loss in the opening match of a major tournament, and unlike Argentina, Die Mannschaft isn’t the highest-ranked team in its group — that title belongs to Spain.
Spain 7, Costa Rica 0
Spain set a record for most goals in a World Cup game in its 7-0 win over Costa Rica on Wednesday. More importantly, it was able to get three points and shoot to the top of Group E on goal differential. If it came down it, it’s safe to assume Spain would win that tiebreaker.
Japan players celebrate after the World Cup Group E soccer match between Germany and Japan at Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.
(AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
JAPAN SHOCKS GERMANY IN GROUP E MATCH
Belgium 1, Canada 0
Canada had every chance to take the wind out of Belgium’s sail, but it didn’t convert any of its 22 shots on goal. Belgium, on the other hand, converted one of its nine attempts and ended with a lower xG (0.76) than Canada (2.61). In a tournament full of upsets, one wasn’t in the cards for Canada on Wednesday. Perhaps it will come against Croatia on Sunday (11 a.m. ET on FS1 and the FOX Sports app).
GOAL OF THE DAY
Doan deserves all the praise he’s getting for his game-winning goal against Germany, not just because of what it meant to Japan but because of how impossible the angle was. Seriously, how did that shot go in?
ASSIST OF THE DAY
Toby Alderweireld’s perfectly placed long ball to Michy Batshuayi broke the tie between Belgium and Canada and earned the Red Devils three points in their opening match of the World Cup. Who said center backs can’t be playmakers?
SAVE OF THE DAY
Thibaut Courtois showed why he’s regarded as the greatest goalkeeper in the world against Canada. With Belgium in danger of going down 1-0 due to a handball inside the box, Courtois came up with a big save on Alphonso Davies.
There are those that will argue Courtois should have had to save another penalty in the first half, and they might be right, but in reality, he saved the only one he needed to and got Belgium the win.
Belgium’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois blocks a shot during the World Cup Group F soccer match between Belgium and Canada at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022.
(AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
MIGHTY MESSI, ARGENTINA OPEN WORLD CUP WITH STUNNING LOSS, NOW FACE UPHILL CLIMB
MUST-SEE MOMENT
Before Canada and Belgium kicked off, FOX Sports analyst Stu Holden did the Alphonso Davies warmup on set.
Unfortunately for Canada, Holden is cap-tied to the United States (and retired).
Switzerland vs. Cameroon, 5 a.m. ET on FS1
If we’re to assume that Brazil is going to run away with the top spot in Group G — which feels silly given the amount of upsets in the tournament so far — then Switzerland, Cameroon and Serbia are all in a race to finish second. Switzerland vs. Cameroon is the first leg of that race.
Uruguay vs. South Korea, 8 a.m. ET on FS1
Uruguay might not be as star-studded as Portugal, but it has tons of quality on its roster and can feasibly finish at the top of the group, especially with all the noise surrounding Portugal at the moment. But first, it must get through Son Heung-min and South Korea.
People gather around the official countdown clock showing remaining time until the kick-off of the World Cup 2022, in Doha, Qatar, Nov. 25, 2021.
(AP Photo/Darko Bandic, File)
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Portugal vs. Ghana, 11 a.m. ET on FOX
After a disastrous start to the Premier League season with Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo has an opportunity to make everything right with a strong comeback performance on the World Cup stage — anything less would be seen as a failure for one of the greatest players of this generation.
Brazil vs. Serbia, 2 p.m. ET on FOX
Brazil saw its rival, Argentina, lose to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. It will be hoping to avoid the same fate against a much tougher Serbia side led by the striker duo of Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic. In any case, it should be a fun one.