FIFA World Cup Day 4 – Japan humbles Germany, Spain annihilates Costa Rica, Morocco, Croatia settle for a draw, Belgium beats Canada

On Day four of the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2022, four games were played at different venues. First up, Morocco locked horns with the 2018 finalists, Croatia. After this, the four-time champions Germany faced Japan. The third game was played between the 2010 winners, Spain, and the Central American side, Costa Rica. The last game of the day was played between Belgium and Canada.

Match Number 1 – Morocco vs Croatia

The 2018 finalists locked horns with the Northern African side, Morocco at the Al Bayt Stadium. Despite having the ball possession (65%) for most parts of the game, they failed to score. They failed to capitalize on their chances and the game ended in 0-0 draw.

Match Number 2 – Germany vs Japan

The former champions met Asian outfit, Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium. It was a game of unequal as the world number 11 side (Germany) was playing against number 24 (Japan). However, despite having a ball possession rate of 26%, they won the game. In the first half, Ilkay Gündogan (33′) scored for the European outfit. Till the 74th minute, they were running away with the game.

However, things changed drastically from 75th to the 83rd minute. Ritsu Doan (75′) and Takuma Asano (83′) scored a goal each to send the world into absolute craziness. Japan won the game by 2-1.

Match Number 3 – Spain vs Costa Rica

The former champions played against the Central American side at the Al Thumama Stadium. Costa Rica is ranked 31st while Spain is ranked seventh. Not to forget, the Spanish team won the title in 2010. Meanwhile, the European side played like a top-ranked side. They possessed the ball for the most time (82%) and it showed in the scorecard.

Spain asserted their dominance in the first half with three goals, one each from Dani Olmo (11′), Marco Asensio (21′), and Ferran Torres (31′). In the second half, the Red Brigade further piled up the misery for their opposition with four more goals. Torres scored his second in the 54th minute. Apart from the goal scorers from the first half, Gavi (74′), Carlos Soler (90′), and Alvaro Morato (90+2′) joined the party. Spain won by 7-0.

Match number 4 – Belgium vs Canada

Canada played their first game of the FIFA World Cup after 1986. Notably, that was the last time Argentina won the world cup. Meanwhile, they played against the European Giants in the last game of day four at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. The European side played the way they were expected to and won by 1-0. Michy Batshuayi scored the match winning goal in the 44th minute.