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Japan beat Germany in second World Cup shock result

Before kick-off, Germany's team staged a protest covering their mouths after they were stopped from wearing a One Love armband following聽threats of sporting sanctions from FIFA.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group E - Germany v Japan - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - November 23, 2022 Japan's Maya Yoshida and Kou Itakura react REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
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Japan have beaten Germany 2-1 in their Group E opener in another shock result at the World Cup.

Ilkay Gundogan had put Germany in the lead with a penalty in the 33rd minute at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha.

Hansi Flick's side put the ball in the back of the net again during added time at the end of the first half - but it was disallowed for being offside.

German players cover mouths in protest - live updates

But two goals in eight minutes turned the game on its head.

Japan's Ritsu Doan, who plays his football for Freiburg in Germany, equalised in the 75th minute, before a simple long ball over the top was put away by Takuma Asano in the 83rd minute to put Japan into the lead.

Germany failed to convert despite having 74% of the possession and more than twice as many shots on target as Japan.

More on World Cup 2022

It was yet further World Cup woe for four-time winners Germany, with the loss leaving them with a must-win game against Spain on Sunday, while Hajime Moriyasu's Japan take on Costa Rica.

Germany players cover their mouths as they pose for a team group photo before the match
Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 - Group E - Germany v Japan - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - November 23, 2022 Germany's Jamal Musiala reacts REUTERS/Annegret Hilse TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The result comes a day after Saudi Arabia beat Argentina 2-1 in one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history.

Before kick-off, Germany's players staged a protest, covering their mouths after they were stopped from wearing the anti-discrimination, rainbow-coloured OneLove armband following threats of sporting sanctions from FIFA.

Japan's Kaoru Mitoma, Wataru Endo and Yuto Nagatomo celebrate
Image: Japan's Kaoru Mitoma, Wataru Endo and Yuto Nagatomo celebrate

The team, like several other European nations, had planned to wear the armbands in Qatar, where homosexuality is illegal, as a show of support for the LGBT community.

The German football federation, the DFB, tweeted a picture of that gesture, and said: "Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice. We stand by our position."

Read more:
Belgium away kit rejected by FIFA because 'love' is written inside collar
Welsh FA to address FIFA after fans' rainbow hats 'confiscated' at match

Germany suffered a shock exit in the group stage as World Cup defending champions in 2018, while Japan are appearing in their seventh straight World Cup.