Minamino is failing at the World Cup and would do this to return to Liverpool

Japan's national football team squandered a chance to seal their place in the last 16 of the World Cup on Sunday after Keysher Fuller's goal near the end gave Costa Rica a surprise 1-0 win in a match in which they barely kicked a goal. Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu believes his team still has a chance of qualifying for the last 16 of the World Cup and can even beat Spain despite their dismal 1-0 loss to Costa Rica on Sunday.

The Blue Samurai failed to build on the momentum of their shock win over Germany on Wednesday and will rue a series of missed chances in a match in which they showed little creativity against a Costa Rican side who defended resolutely. The four-time Asian champions, who stunned Germany with a 2-1 win in their Group E opener, squandered a perfect chance to advance to the next round with a game to spare on Sunday, conceding a late goal against a team who scored with their first shot on target of the World Cup in Qatar.

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When no one expected it, and in Costa Rica's only shot on goal all game, Fuller struck from the edge of the box and beat goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda's feeble resistance. The defeat leaves Japan with a tough challenge to advance to the round of 16, as they will define their chances of progressing against Spain on Thursday.

Japan made five changes to their starting line-up and, despite bolstering their attack with second-half substitutions, were punished for a conservative approach against a shell-shocked opponent. Among Japan's substitutions was Minamino, the former Liverpool player, but he had little to do for his side.

<strong>Minamino left Liverpool in the summer</strong>

The 27-year-old Takumi Minamino now plays for French club Monaco, where he joined in the summer from Liverpool. He was with the Reds from January 2020 until last June, but his signing was a mistake for Jürgen Klopp. According to local media reports, Minamino would have been willing to return to Liverpool and even come down to the ground, but Klopp is no longer considering him.