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:
Flick on facing Costa Rica
“When you look at the table Costa Rica have a chance to reach the round of 16. A draw, and a win for Spain, is enough for them to advance,” said German boss Hansi Flick.
“I expect from Costa Rica a defensive performance as they did it against Japan. We have to find solutions against that. I think it would show a lack of respect to Costa Rica to talk about scoring eight goals. We will be happy if we win it and that is our aim.
“We want to try to decide it for us from the start. But to come back from that 7-0 and deliver such a defensive performance against Japan deserves respect.”
“We have the qualification not entirely in our own hands but what is pressure?... I feel no pressure. Not after the game against Japan either. I am convinced we are on a good path.”
Costa Rica vs Germany
The warm-ups are done and dusted and kick off is 15 minutes away.
This is another pressure filled game for Germany who are on the brink of being knocked out of the World Cup. Can they step up once again and defeat Costa Rica tonight?
Costa Rica vs Germany
Germany’s know what they need to do. Win or else their tournament is over.
Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala will need to be on fire in front of goal if Germany are to make it through to the last-16.
They should have enough quality to get past Costa Rica but they’ve been shocked already in this tournament.
Costa Rica vs Germany
What result will the fans see tonight? Can Germany reach the knockout rounds from the last chance saloon or will Costa Rica secure another memorable win and head into the last-16?
Could Flick depart head coach role?
Belgium boss Roberto Martinez has confirmed that he will be leaving his role as the national manager after his team were knocked out of the World Cup but could Hansi Flick join him?
Germany are in danger of being eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage for the second tournament in a row but the head coach has no plans about leaving his position should that occur.
"I have a contract until 2024 and I look forward to the home Euros (in 2024) but it is a long time until then," said Flick, who took over from Joachim Low in August 2021.
"We want to kill off the game early to pile pressure on the other group game. We have to have the attitude we showed against Spain."
Female referees will make history in Qatar – here’s what they can expect
“History will be made in Qatar for the Fifa World Cup 2022, with the appointment of six female match officials for the first time.
“Referees Stephanie Frappart from France, Salima Mukansanga from Rwanda and Yoshimi Yamashita from Japan – as well as assistant referees Neuza Back from Brazil, Karen Diaz Medina from Mexico and Kathryn Nesbitt from the USA – represent a cadre of female referees breaking through to the elite men’s level.
“The 36 referees, 69 assistant referees and 24 video match officials (VMOs) chosen to go to Qatar represent the highest level of refereeing worldwide.
“The appointment of female match officials to Qatar 2022 has been achieved thanks to a long-term plan. This involved their appointment to men’s junior and senior Fifa tournaments in preparation for the world’s most important tournament.”
Keith Hackett: Female refs will make history in Qatar – here’s what they can expect
Every referee is expected to deliver top-class performances without exception
Costa Rica vs Germany referee: Who is World Cup 2022 official Stephanie Frappart?
All eyes will be on Costa Rica vs Germany on Thursday evening at the World Cup, for multiple reasons.
For starters it’s a decisive Group E fixture and all four teams can still make the last 16 or go home early. And it’s also a game in which history will be made, as Stephanie Frappart will be referee - the first time a female has officiated a men’s World Cup fixture.
The French official will be assisted by Brazilian Neuza Back and Mexican Karen Diaz, as part of an all-female on-field team selected by Fifa.
Breaking barriers is nothing new for the 38-year-old, with Frappart’s performances earning her a role in Ligue 1, France’s top-flight league for men, since 2019.
Who is Costa Rica vs Germany referee at the World Cup?
History made at the Qatar World Cup but Frappart has been earning increasingly high-profile games for years
Belgium’s golden generation spurn last chance at World Cup glory
A golden generation has lost its gilding. The most talented group of Belgian footballers in living memory have spurned their last chance at glory, instead exiting at the group stages of what is surely their last World Cup together. At the final whistle, their best player Kevin De Bruyne was staring into the middle distance, their one-time world-beating talent Eden Hazard was contemplating his role as an ineffective late substitute and their supreme goalscorer Romelu Lukaku was lamenting a series of barely believable missed chances.
For Roberto Martinez, the manager who has come closest to fulfilling this squad’s almost limitless potential, it is surely his final act in charge. It would be tempting to say that the recriminations will come over the next few days for him and his players if not for the fact that they had started already. Talk of a divided squad past its sell-by date has undercut this last dance since the start of their tournament and will now only grow louder.
Croatia progress from Group F but only as runners-up, which is perhaps evidence of their own powers being on the wane. Zlatko Dalic’s side still had just enough about their careful possession play to earn the goalless draw and the point that they required to be sure of reaching the last 16, though their opponents in Al Wakrah on Monday will not have been overly intimidated by what they saw. With Morocco beating Canada to top the group, if it were not for some extraordinary Lukaku misses, Croatia may easily have exited themselves.
Belgium’s golden generation spurn last chance at World Cup glory
Croatia 0-0 Belgium: Romelu Lukaku missed a series of clear chances as Croatia eliminated their opponents from the 2022 World Cup at the group stage
Roberto Martinez stands down as Belgium manager after World Cup exit
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that he will leave his role as manager of Belgium after they exited the 2022 World Cup.
The former Everton boss, who was in charge of the Red Devils for six years, guided them to third place in Russia four years ago and was at the helm for a three-and-a-half year spell as Fifa’s No 1 ranked side.
But a deeply disappointing tournament in Qatar, where a defeat by Morocco and a draw with Croatia ensured a group-stage exit, has seen him opt to walk away.
“That was my last game”, he said afterwards at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium. “It’s emotional as you can imagine.”
Martinez’s side were improved against the 2018 finalists but substitute Romelu Lukaku, in particular, failed to take a number of second-half chances, the draw not enough as Croatia progressed in their place.
Roberto Martinez stands down as Belgium manager after World Cup exit
Defeats to Morocco and a draw with Croatia ensured a group-stage exit for the Red Devils
Suarez aiming for knockout rounds
Costa Rica’s coach Luis Fernando Suarez hopes his side can emulate the Costa Rican team from 2014 who reached the World Cup last-16 ahead of England and Italy.
"Eight years have gone by and players have changed but you have good memories," said Colombian Suarez.
"Maybe it’s down to the genes of the Costa Ricans. When they reach a World Cup they do things differently and they play well. I’m not just talking about 2014 in Brazil, I think also about Italy 1990.
"They reached the last 16 when no-one believed in them. They are never the favourites, which is good.
"We need to be emotionally strong and break our backs in this match. If Germany is knocked out it would be a major thing and we would be proud to be responsible for that."
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