Costa Rica vs Germany LIVE: World Cup 2022 result and reaction as Germany win but go out
Germany must defeat Costa Rica or else they will be eliminated from the World Cup
Four-time champions Germany sensationally crashed out of the World Cup despite a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica in their last Group E match on Thursday, tumbling out at the first hurdle for the second consecutive time. Germany finished third in the standings, behind Spain on goal difference, with Japan top following their 2-1 win over the Spaniards.
The result left Japan facing Croatia in the last 16 while Spain will take on Morocco. On a night of unrelenting drama in the desert near Doha, the Germans struck first with Serge Gnabry in the 10th minute but saw the Central Americans score twice with Yeltsin Tejeda and a Manuel Neuer own goal before a Kai Havertz brace put them back in front. Fellow substitute Niclas Fuellkrug added a fourth in stoppage time but it could do nothing to prevent their elimination as Spain advanced with a superior goal difference. It was the first time in their illustrious World Cup history that Germany had failed to win any of their first two group matches and despite bagging a win on their last attempt, they will be departing Qatar with dropped heads.
“In the first half I was disappointed and very angry at my team and how we allowed the opponent to come back,” Germany coach Hansi Flick said. “We wanted to score three or four goals in the first half but then we made mistakes. If we had converted those chances, 16 of them. But the tournament was not decided today for us. We did not have any efficiency at this tournament and that is why we were eliminated.”
They were teetering on the brink of elimination going into the game after losing their opening group match to Japan and then snatching a 1-1 draw against Spain. Needing only victory to avoid a repeat of their shock 2018 World Cup first round exit, Germany, with seven Bayern Munich players in their line-up, charged forward from the start in search of an early goal to settle their nerves. Jamal Musiala cut from left into the box and tested keeper Keylor Navas with a low drive in the second minute. It was one-way traffic initially and unmarked Thomas Mueller should have done much better when he was picked out by Joshua Kimmich but could not keep his header on target. Gnabry, however, scored with his glancing header in the 10th minute to put the four-time champions in front. Costa Rica, who required at least a point to have a chance to progress, rarely crossed into the German half, with only about 25% possession in the first 45 minutes. Germany were eager to make amends for their bad tournament start with teenager Musiala repeatedly taking on the entire Costa Rican defence. The chances kept coming but the Germans, as in the game against Japan, struggled to convert them. They were almost punished when Keysher Fuller benefitted from a double defensive blunder but his shot was tipped over the bar by Neuer, whose 19th appearance at the tournament was a World Cup record for goalkeepers.
With the group standings flashing up on the big screen of the Al Bayt stadium, Germany grew nervous with Musiala twice hitting the post early in the second half. Neuer, however, could do nothing 13 minutes after the restart when Tejeda thundered the ball past him on the rebound after he had first saved a Kendall Waston header. Juan Pablo Vargas then appeared to have bundled the ball over the line in the 70th minute to put Costa Rica in front but the effort was later credited as a Neuer own goal. Substitute Havertz scored twice in 12 minutes and Fuellkrug added another in stoppage time but ultimately it was too little too late with Spain advancing with a superior goal difference.
Relive all the action from out live blog below:
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
32 mins: Close! Croatia get forward down the left wing and feed Borna Sosa into the byline. He swings a good cross into the box and finds Marko Livaja who rises above two defenders before nodding an effort wide of the left-hand post!
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
29 mins: It’s been a tepid half an hour or so barring Perisic’s early chance and the penalty debacle. Neither team is moving the ball quickly and both look content to hold their shape and slowly make their way up the pitch.
Belgium need some impetus, they’re the ones that have to win. Croatia can draw 0-0 and still get through.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
26 mins: The crowd erupts as the current group standings are shown on the big screen. Belgium are holding onto possession but they aren’t doing much with it.
A cross into the box is easily cleared by Brozovic who wins the ball back for Croatia.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
23 mins: Belgium just look a little slow in their play. It’s as though they’re not sure how best to attack Croatia and by the time they’ve figured it out the Croatians have pressed and are on top of them.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
20 mins: Belgium will feel as though they got away with one there. Luka Modric was all set to smash home the spot kick before it got overturned.
NO PENALTY! Croatia 0-0 Belgium
17 mins: There’s a pause in proceedings as Anthony Taylor is called over to the pitchside monitor by VAR to check for a possible offside in the build-up.
The referee looks at the replays and overturns his decision!
Penalty to Croatia!
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
14 mins: Huge moment! Croatia dink a free kick into the area and Jan Vertonghen wins the initial header. He nods it to Yannick Carrasco who gives the ball away with a heavy touch.
Andrej Kramaric nicks it and is then clipped by Carrasco before going down in the box.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
12 mins: Close! Dries Mertens makes a nice darting run in behind and gets played into the right side of the penalty area. He fizzes a pass across the six-yard box and picks out Yannick Carrasco whose simple effort is turned behind by a Josip Juranovic deflection.
The resultant corner comes to nothing for Belgium.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
9 mins: Leandro Trossard and Josko Gvardiol come together as Trossard attempts to hold up the ball in the middle of the pitch. He does well to keep the defender at bay and wins Belgium a free kick.
They work it nicely into the final third where Yannick Carrasco takes a shot that Marcelo Brozovic gets in behind and blocks.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
6 mins: In the other Group F match taking place right now Hakim Ziyech has scored for Morocco against Canada already.
That means as it stands Belgium must beat Croatia in order to reach the last-16. Croatia will go through if this ends in a draw.
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