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:
FT Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Romelu Lukaku attempted five shots, the joint-highest total for a Belgium player in a match at the 2022 World Cup.
FT Croatia 0-0 Belgium
What a campaign from Morocco.
They completed a 2-1 win over Canada to top a group which included two of the 2018 World Cup semi-finalists to reach the knockout stages for the first time since 1986.
Croatia sneak through having played out two goalless draws either side of a 4-1 win over Canada.
Croatia vs Belgium player ratings: Romelu Lukaku abysmal as ‘golden generation’ turns to rust
Belgium crashed out of the Qatar World Cup on Thursday after drawing 0-0 with Croatia, while Morocco beat Canada 2-1 elsewhere in Group F.
Belgium had underwhelmed against Canada in their tournament opener but snatched a 1-0 win, before suffering a critical 2-0 defeat by Morocco.
Meanwhile, Croatia had drawn 0-0 with Morocco then breezed past Canada 4-1, putting themselves in a promising position to reach the last 16.
They sealed their spot with a point here, while Morocco qualified top of Group F due to their victory over Canada.
Here’s how the players fared:
Croatia vs Belgium player ratings: Romelu Lukaku abysmal in front of goal
Croatia 0-0 Belgium: The striker missed four clear chances to score and send his side into the last 16
FT Croatia 0-0 Belgium
Belgium, the number two ranked side in the world, have been eliminated from the World Cup.
Full-time: Croatia 0-0 Belgium
90+4 mins: There’s the final whistle. Belgium are out of the World Cup!
They could get past Croatia’s defence, couldn’t pick up three points today and as a result Roberto Martinez’s golden generation have been knocked out in the group stages!
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
90+2 mins: Another chance! Thorgan Hazard knocks the ball into the six-yard box as Belgium break down Croatia. Romelu Lukaku is hovering but Josko Gvardiol stretches at the ball and pokes it wide of the big striker!
What a block from the defender.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
90 mins: Oh no! Jeremy Doku weaves his way through the box and slides a pass to Thorgan Hazard who floats a perfect pass into the six-yard box.
He drops the ball over Dejan Lovran and picks out Romelu Lukaku who lets the ball hit him in the chest but then miscontrols it. Dominik Livakovic leaps onto the loose ball and smothers the danger.
Four minutes of added time to play!
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
87 mins: Chance! Timothy Castagne floats a cross over to the far side of the box where Thomas Meunier volleys a pass into Romelu Lukaku.
The forward has no time to react but sticks out a leg and deflects the ball wide of the post!
Eden Hazard comes on to replace Meunier after that move.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
84 mins: Eden Hazard is coming on for the final minutes. He is the last card that Roberto Martinez has left to play. The Belgium captain will have mere minutes to influence his country’s World Cup destiny.
As it stands Belgium are going out. They need a goal.
Croatia 0-0 Belgium
81 mins: Into the final 10 minutes with both teams creating chances. Croatia’s two substitutes are linking up well in the Belgium final third but they’ve yet to create a clear chance.
Juranovic storms forward to help out and receives the ball. He carries it into the box but his cutback finds Axel Witsel who boots it clear.
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