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:
Costa Rica 1-1 Germany
61 mins: How about this for a permutation? If Costa Rica score again then both Spain and Germany could get knocked out of the World Cup.
Germany are the ones in the ascendancy though, they’re peppering Keylor Navas’ goal at the minute.
GOAL! Costa Rica 1-1 Germany (Tejeda,58’)⚽️
58 mins: Costa Rica are level! A lovely counter-attack from Costa Rica sees Keysher Fuller sweep into the box and lift a cross over to Youstin Sala who nods the ball straight at Manuel Neuer.
The German goalkeeper palms it away but Yeltsin Tejeda is first to react and guides the ball home!
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
57 mins: Niclas Fullkrug comes on now for Germany to replace Ilkay Gundogan as the Germans are now in desperate need of goals. Japan have scored a second goal against Spain and are now top of Group E.
To qualify Germany need to score six goals or hope Spain make a comeback against Japan!
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
54 mins: Musiala looks to be growing frustrated out there. He makes another decent run to the byline before cutting inside and trying to set up Thomas Muller with a cutback.
Juan Pablo Vargas gets ahead of the forward though and clears the danger for Costa Rica.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
51 mins: What a surprise!
Japan have equalised against Spain and now move ahead of Germany in the Group E standings. Both Japan and Germany are level on points and goal difference so a goal from Spain or Germany will see Hansi Flick’s side get through.
That news will be filtering through to the German team right now.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
48 mins: Ilkay Gundogan swings a cross field pass over to David Raum who sends the ball up to Jamal Musiala. Musiala drives at the defence and goes around two players before getting stopped just inside the box.
He’s not short on confidence at all.
Second half: Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
Costa Rica get the match back underway as they search for an equaliser. Germany quickly win possession of the ball though with Niklas Sule bringing it past the halfway line as the South American side drop deep.
HT Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
Serge Gnabry’s 21st goal for Germany was his first international goal scored with his head. He is the first German to score a headed goal at the World Cup since Mats Hummels in 2014 vs. France.
HT Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
In the other Group E match of the night Spain lead Japan 1-0 at half-time meaning that as it stands both Spain and Germany will be heading into the last-16.
Japan need to defeat Spain to pip the Germans into second place.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments