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:
Half-time: Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
45+1 mins: Germany go into the break with a slender one goal lead. Costa Rica had a great chance to equalise right at the end of the half but Manuel Neuer denied Keysher Fuller a second World Cup goal.
Hansi Flick will want his team to score again to be certain of a victory here. He’ll be remembering the Japan game where Germany shipped two goals in eight minutes.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
42 mins: Save! A simple long ball up the pitch from Costa Rica sees David Raum miss the ball as he attempts to control it before Antonio Rudiger has his pocket picked by Keysher Fuller.
He touches the ball into the box and shoots but Manuel Neuer is on hand to push the ball over the top of the crossbar!
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
39 mins: Close! Raum sends a throw in up to Thomas Muller who dinks the ball into the box for Serge Gnabry who flicks and spins his way into space before curling a decent effort just wide of the far post!
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
36 mins: Chance! Serge Gnabry flicks a pass round the corner to play Jamal Musiala into the box. The youngster shuffles past two defenders before poking a right-footed shot wide of the far post!
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
35 mins: Close! With nothing really on for him Kimmich has a go from range and blasts a dipping shot towards goal. It’s a good effort but Keylor Navas gets in behind it.
The goalkeeper spills the ball though and Thomas Muller almost pounces but Kendall Watson holds him off allowing Navas to leap on top of it.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
33 mins: Costa Rica are set deep and are holding their line refusing to come out and engage Germany’s creative players. Joshua Kimmich whips in a cross from the right side but overhits it and can’t pick out a teammate.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
30 mins: Costa Rica seemingly have six men in the back line yet still Germany are finding loads of space in the final third. Ilkay Gundogan tries to float in a cross but his effort is charged down.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
27 mins: David Raum swings a corner into the box for Germany - it’s their fifth of the match - but Costa Rica deal with this one easily enough.
The don’t keep the ball for long as the Germans recover the clearance and look to attack once again.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
24 mins: Serge Gnabry weaves his way into a packed penalty area as Costa Rica get men behind the ball. It comes out to David Raum who pulls the ball back to Jamal Musiala but his snapshot doesn’t get through the cluster of bodies.
Costa Rica 0-1 Germany
21 mins: Germany have settled down a bit since they scored. They’re still in complete control of the match but aren’t feeding it into the final third with as much gusto as the opening 10 minutes.
You wouldn’t put it past them adding one or two more before half-time though.
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