It was supposed to be an almost impossible mission.
Handed a draw featuring two recent FIFA World Cup champions in Germany and Spain, Japan was pegged by many as the third wheel in a veritable “group of death” — good enough to frustrate opponents as the plucky underdog, but lacking the killer edge needed to deliver results against such strong European opposition.
That pluckiness was all that kept the Samurai Blue in the mix after 45 minutes at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday, with Germany passing circles around the Japanese defense and goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda giving away the opening goal when he conceded a penalty by fouling David Raum shortly after the half-hour mark.