germany crashed World Cup in the group stage for the second time in a row, despite a 4–2 win against Costa Rica on Thursday.
The four-time World Cup winners came into the match needing a win but also counting on the result of Japan’s game with Spain to progress.
But the Germans were eliminated on goal difference as Japan followed up Germany’s defeat with another surprise result by defeating Spain 2–1.
Germany took an early lead but fell behind briefly in the second half as coach Hansi Flick made several changes reacting to the live score of the Japan vs Spain match.
The Germans started positively, with Flick’s all-Bayern Munich front line turning the screw early on, battering the Costa Rica defense before Serge Gnabry headed in a curling cross from Leipzig defender David Raum to open the scoring after 10 minutes. Got his head.
Midfielder Leon Goretzka almost doubled Germany’s lead five minutes later, but his header was straight at Keylor Navas.
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Complacency started creeping into the German game. Keisher Fuller, Costa Rica’s goal-scoring hero in a 1-0 win against Japan, forced Manuel Neuer to make a fingertip save after some half-hearted defending from Raum and Antonio Ruediger.
Flick moved Kimmich back to his familiar defensive midfield position at half-time, bringing on Lukas Klostermann at the expense of Goretzka, who like Kimmich started the match in yellow.
Just seven minutes into the second half, word spread around the huge Lusail Stadium that Japan had scored two quick goals to take the lead against Spain, which would result in Germany’s exit from the tournament.
Flick reacted quickly, bringing on Niklas Fuelkrug and removing another midfielder in Ilkay Gundogan.
Germany appeared unconvinced as Costa Rica went on counter at the 58-minute mark, the ball bouncing off Neuer into the path of Yeltsin Tejeda, who slotted it home.
Flick continued to chase the game, making more changes but it was Costa Rica who scored next when Juan Pablo Vargas fired a free kick past Neuer to put Spain past and through to the round of 16. The goal was later recorded as an own goal. ,
Germany equalized minutes later through Chelsea forward Kai Havertz.
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Havertz scored again in the 86th minute and Fuelkrug added another in the 89th minute to bring the score to 4–2, but the group’s attention remained focused on the parallel fixture of the group.
The night ended with Germany losing to second-placed Spain on goal difference.
This means that Germany, who had not missed the knockout stages of the World Cup for 80 years until the 2018 tournament in Russia, have been knocked out in the group stage of the second World Cup in a row.
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