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:
Croatia vs Belgium
A landmark day for Thibaut Courtois as the 30-year-old, who made his Belgium debut in 2011, reaches 100 caps for Belgium.
He becomes the first keeper to reach this milestone for the men’s national side and seventh player overall after Jan Vertonghen, Axel Witsel, Toby Alderweireld, Eden Hazard, Dries Mertens and Romelu Lukaku.
Courtois has kept 49 clean sheets so far for the national team.
Croatia vs Belgium
Belgium have won their last two meetings with Croatia, with Romelu Lukaku netting all three of their goals in those victories.
However, Lukaku isn’t 100% fit and starts from the bench today.
Belgium on the brink as golden generation bid to keep last World Cup shot alive
It could be the end of an era for a generation. They are the golden generation who have not struck gold and probably never will now. And yet Roberto Martinez, with his remarkable gift for positivity, argued that, even with a group-stage exit from the World Cup, the greatest pool of players Belgium have ever had have achieved more than some champions.
“This generation haven’t won a major tournament but they’re leaving a legacy and that can go further,” the Belgium manager said. “This group of players deserve respect and admiration. We can win, draw or lose but the legacy of this generation is clear. The next 20 years will not be the same because of them.”
Martinez’s reasoning was multifaceted. “They got a bronze medal in 2018, they were four years the No 1 [ranked team by Fifa] and 21 of them have got their A Licences,” he said. “They are going to carry on affecting Belgian football from a coaching perspective for the next 20 years.”
Belgium on the brink as golden generation bid to keep last World Cup shot alive
An ageing Belgium must beat Croatia to stay in the World Cup or it could well be the final time we see many of this squad together on football’s greatest stage
Will Belgium get knocked out?
Belgium have reached at least the quarter-finals at each of their last four major tournaments and won the third-place play-off at the 2018 World Cup against England.
They are the number two ranked side in the world behind Brazil and yet face the prospect of an early exit unless they defeat Croatia this afternoon.
Questions have arisen about the desire of the players, whether they are too old and if the ‘golden generation’ talent has been wasted following lacklustre displays against Canada and Morocco.
Roberto Martinez’s men can silence the critics with a stellar performance against Croatia in what is, on paper, the most difficult game of Group F.
Rumours of Belgium dressing room divide ‘invented'
Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois says that the rumours about a split within the Belgium dressing room, especially between the senior players, are just ‘invented stories’ due to the team’s struggle at the World Cup so far.
Head coach Roberto Martinez added that there is a "desire to find negative news" about his squad.
"Some people are quite happy to jump on fake news," Martinez said ahead of the game against Croatia.
"It is quite astonishing. It shows you that maybe there is more desire to find negative news about the team rather than enjoy the best generation of talent that we’ve ever had in Belgian football."
Belgium’s World Cup defeat by Morocco leads to riots on streets of Brussels
Belgium’s shock World Cup defeat by Morocco on Sunday led to riots on the streets of Brussels, with photos and videos showing cars being smashed and upturned, and fires being started.
The incidents in the Belgian capital, which saw riot police deployed, followed the national football team’s surprise 2-0 loss to Morocco in Group F, a result that puts Roberto Martinez’s side on the brink of an early exit from the competition in Qatar.
The result led to violent riots in Brussels, which led to the deployment of riot police.
Photos and video footage show cars and other property being vandalised in the streets of the Belgian capital, with fires also lit in the roads.
Belgium’s World Cup defeat by Morocco leads to riots on streets of Brussels
Belgium suffered a shock 2-0 loss to Morocco to put them on the brink of a group-stage exit in Qatar
Croatia vs Belgium team changes
Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic names an unchanged team to the one that defeated Canada 4-1 last time out.
Roberto Martinez meanwhile makes four changes to his Belgium side. The big news is the Eden Hazard drops to the bench along Thorgan Hazard and Michy Batshuayi. Amadu Onana is suspended.
Replacing them are Leander Dendoncker, Yannick Carrasco, Leandro Trossard and Dries Mertens.
Croatia vs Belgium line-ups
Croatia XI: Livakovic, Juranovic, Lovren, Gvardiol, Sosa, Modric, Brozovic, Kovacic, Kramaric, Livaja, Perisic
Belgium XI: Courtois, Meunier, Alderweireld, Vertonghen, Castagne, Dendoncker, Witsel, Carrasco, De Bruyne, Trossard, Mertens
Today at the World Cup: Crunch time for Germany and history to be made
Four of Europe’s big guns face potential World Cup elimination on Thursday as Groups E and F are settled.
Germany are the side with most work to do as they head into their final Group E game against Costa Rica with just a point to their name. Group leaders Spain still have a job to finish against Japan, whose hopes are also still alive.
Belgium, one of the tournament’s big disappointments so far, have a tough task as they take on 2018 runners-up Croatia. There is a strong likelihood only one of those sides will progress as Morocco are well placed and need only a draw against already-eliminated Canada.
Here, we look ahead to the action and reviews the games on Wednesday which included notable wins for Argentina and Australia.
Today at the World Cup: Crunch time for Germany and history to be made
Morocco are looking to secure a place in the last 16 and need only a draw against Canada
Croatia vs Belgium prediction
Every World Cup seems to have a big-hitter that crashes out of the group stages and, barring a sudden turnaround, it looks set to be Belgium here.
They have been out-worked by both Morocco and Canada so far, while Croatia are always up for the fight. They have the quality, too, to knock Belgium out of the World Cup.
Croatia 2-0 Belgium
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