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

Fifa World Cup: Results and reactions from day twelve

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 vs Germany

• Germany suffer shock World Cup exit despite win over Costa Rica in final Group E match
• 90’ GOAL! Fullkrug adds a fourth after lengthy VAR check (CRC 2-4 GER)
• 85’ GOAL! Havertz has his second, and a lead for Germany (CRC 2-3)
• 71’ GOAL! Havertz replies to draw Germany level (CRC 2-2 GER)
• 70’ GOAL! Vargas converts as scrappy Costa Rica goal earns shock lead (CRC 2-1 GER)
• 67’ POST! Musiala with a rocket and the woodwork saves Costa Rica with Navas beaten (CRC 1-1 GER)
• 58’ GOAL! A stunner as Tejeda bundles home after Neuer spills (CRC 1-1 GER)
• 42’ WHAT A SAVE! Fuller capitalises on Rudiger’s mistake but Neuer denies his wild volley at goal (CRC 0-1 GER)
• 36’ CHANCE! Musiala dribbles into the box and then loses balance, slicing wide (CRC 0-1 GER)
• 15’ SAVE! Another good chance for Germany, Goretzka stretching and heads from close range as Navas stands tall (CRC 0-1)
• 10’ GOAL! Gnabry with a powerful header to put Germany in front (CRC 0-1 GER)
• 85’ GOAL! Havertz has his second, and a lead for Germany (CRC 2-3)
• 2’ SAVE! Navas pushes away Musiala’s fierce strike (CRC 0-0 GER)

[1 December 2022 16:38 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

78 mins: Thorgan Hazard wins a corner then swings it into the middle of the penalty area. He finds Jan Vertonghen but Mario Pasalic turns it behind.

The referee thinks the ball has gone out off the Belgium defender though and awards Croatia a goal kick.

[1 December 2022 16:36 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

75 mins: Croatia have nine men behind the ball as De Bruyne slides a pass over to Tielemans on the right side of the pitch. He whips in a cross but there’s only Romelu Lukaku in the box and he’s easily marked.

Croatia clear their lines.

[1 December 2022 16:32 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

73 mins: Martinez is throwing as many attack minded players on the pitch as he can. The longer the game goes on the more Croatia will go into their shells and try to hold out for a draw.

Belgium are still searching for this goal. Will Romelu Lukaku end up ruing his missed chance?

[1 December 2022 16:31 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

71 mins: Roberto Martinez is animatedly talking to Youri Tielemans and Jeremy Doku on the sidelines as he prepares more changes.

Leander Dendoncker and Yannick Carrasco are the two men replaced.

[1 December 2022 16:27 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

66 mins: Andrej Kramaric and Marko Livaja are substituted off for Croatia with Mario Pasalic and Bruno Petkovic replacing them.

Petkovic gets involved straight away, setting Luka Modric up for a shot but the midfielder can’t keep the bouncing, bobbling ball from rising over the goal.

[1 December 2022 16:25 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

63 mins: The replays show that Josip Juranovic got a slight deflection on Lukaku’s effort which took the ball onto the post. That could be a monumental block if Croatia end up going through.

De Bruyne lifts another cross onto Lukaku’s head but he puts the effort over the crossbar this time. The ball had rolled over the byline though before De Bruyne passed it so any goal wouldn’t have counted.

[1 December 2022 16:21 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

60 mins: Off the woodwork! How has Lukaku missed this?

On the half turn Kevin De Bruyne slides a pass into the box for Yannick Carrasco who shrugs off a defender and pokes the ball at goal forcing Dominik Livakovic into a sharp save.

The ball rebounds out to Romelu Lukaku who fizzes a right-footed shot at goal and drills it into the nearest post!

[1 December 2022 16:17 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

57 mins: Sosa is played into space on the left hand side allowing him to lift another cross into the box for Croatia but he puts it too close to Courtois who plucks the ball out of the add.

Thorgan Hazard is then introduced as a replacement for Leandro Trossard.

[1 December 2022 16:14 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

54 mins: Save! Thibaut Courtois is called into action once more. Sosa floats a chipped pass into the box for Livaja who chests it down before giving the ball to Kovacic.

He feeds it across to Brozovic who drills a shot at goal and forces the Belgium goalkeeper into a sharp stop to his right!

[1 December 2022 16:10 · Michael Jones]

Croatia 0-0 Belgium

51 mins: Save! Croatia seem to have sensed more purpose from Belgium and sweep up the pitch to create a chance of their own. Josko Gvardiol dances into the area before sliding a pass over to Mateo Kovacic who curls an effort at goal that Thibaut Courtois tips over the crossbar!