Germany vs. Japan final score: Another massive World Cup upset as Samurai Blue stun Germans with late goals

Germany vs. Japan final score: Another massive World Cup upset as Samurai Blue stun Germans with late goals

For the second World Cup in a row Germany began their campaign in disastrous fashion, frittering away a first half lead to lose 2-1 to Spain. Suddenly, the champions of 2014 face the very realistic prospect of a second straight exit at the group stage, a self-inflicted crisis that was as much about disastrous defensive work as it was the excellence of match winner Takuma Asano.

Every metric would point to Germany having been a vastly superior side for the 75 minutes before Ritsu Doan fired Japan back to parity, but the sense was of a profligate team who lacked a killer instinct at one end and composure at the other. Japan showed both in abundance and although there is plenty of work to be done in escaping a group that includes Spain and Costa Rica they are superbly placed to do so. Unlike Hansi Flick’s side they do not look like a team liable to give anywhere near as many easy chances away as their opponents do.

At the outset, Japan might have seen precious little of the ball in the first half but they showed an impressive sense for hunting down possession. Daizen Maeda could have sent this game down a very different path in the seventh minute but, after fine work from the Japanese midfield to pick the pocket of a dawdling Ilkay Gundogan, the Celtic striker made his move too soon to slot in past Manuel Neuer.

Those half openings came Japan’s way more than once in the early exchanges, as did ever-expanding spells of German possession. Thomas Muller and Joshua Kimmich would drift from

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Prisco’s NFL picks for wild-card round: Bills roll over Patriots in AFC East rubber match, 49ers upset Cowboys

Prisco’s NFL picks for wild-card round: Bills roll over Patriots in AFC East rubber match, 49ers upset Cowboys

Like some of the NFL teams did with their players, I rested last week. That awful showing you saw with my picks came from my backup. It wasn’t me. Blame the backup. He was terrible. I was getting ready for the postseason.

OK. It was me. I played, and I got abused. LOOOOOOSER.

That certainly is not the week I wanted heading into the playoffs. I went 7-9 ATS, 8-8 straight up and 2-4 with my Best Bets as part of the Pick Six Podcast. That brings my season records to 144-125-3 ATS, 168-103-1 straight up and 59-54 with my Best Bets.

I do like the Super Wild Card Weekend games this week, so I am getting back on track.

My backup did a terrible job last week when I sat out, so I am ready to go.

Bring on the playoffs.

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

Latest Odds:

Cincinnati Bengals
-5.5

The Raiders got into the playoffs by beating the Chargers on Sunday night, while the Bengals are coming off a loss where they rested most of their top players. That’s an edge to the Bengals. Cincinnati has an explosive offense, but the Raiders counter with a wicked pass rush. This will be decided by how well the Bengals can protect Joe Burrow. I think they do it well enough to win the game, but it will be close. The Bengals win their first playoff game since the 1990 season.

Pick: Bengals 27, Raiders 24

Saturday, 8:15 p.m. ET (CBS, Paramount+)

Latest Odds:

Buffalo Bills
-4.5

This is the third game featuring these two this season, with each winning on the other’s field. New England won the first meeting in a wind storm in early December, while the Bills dominated the Pats at their place in late December.

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