Serge Gnabry of Germany during the warm-ups before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E Costa Rica vs Germany match at Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor on December 1. Photo Credit: Reuters
Germany need a win to reach the knockout stage world CupThey fielded a more attacking formation with winger Leroy Sane, sliding in with fullback Thilo Kehrer for their last Group E match against . Costa Rica on Thursday.
Coach Hansi Flick also kept Serge Gnabry as his lone striker, choosing center left forward Niklas Feulkrug, who scored a goal. The equalizer against Spain as a substituteOn the bench.
His Costa Rican counterpart Luis Fernando Suarez made three changes with Juan Pablo Vargas replacing suspended defender Francisco Calvo, while Brandon Aguilera and Johan Venegas also got clearances.
Depending on the second group match between Spain and Japan, their team could potentially advance with either a draw or a win.
teams
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas, Juan Pablo Vargas, Keisher Fuller, Oscar Duarte, Brian Oviedo, Kendall Waston, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Brandon Aguilera, Johan Venegas, Joel Campbell
Germany: Manuel Neuer, David Raum, Antonio Ruediger, Niklas Suelle, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gnedogan, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry.