Despite defeating Costa Rica, Germany was eliminated from the 2022 World Cup on Thursday following a great Group E match.
Fans of Costa Rica, Germany, Spain, and Japan all believed their nations might be headed to the knockout round at various stages during the two games.
Japan was dominated by Spain in the first half and down by Alvaro Morata’s goal before the break, but some way they came back to win 2-1 and take first place in the group.
Ritsu Dan and Ao Tanaka scored once for Japan in the first three minutes of the second half.
Despite trailing at one point, Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2; however, Spain and Japan advanced to the round of 16.
According to Germany’s coach Hansi Flick, the “disappointment is immense” for the German team.
According to Reuters, Flick remarked, “In the first half, I was disappointed and quite unhappy at my squad and how we let the opponent fight back.”
“We hoped to score 3 or 4 goals in the first half, but we committed mistakes. Sixteen of them, if we had succeeded with those opportunities.
“But today did not determine who will win the tournament. We were eliminated from this event because we lacked effectiveness.”
As a result of Group E’s outcome, Spain will play Morocco in the following round, while Japan will face Croatia.
The fact that Stéphanie Frappart was the first female official of a men’s World Cup game made the evening historic in another way.
The French referee was one of an all-female trio of referees handling the match between Germany and Costa Rica, with assistants Neuza Back of Brazil and Karen Diaz of Mexico.
These two Group E matches will live long in the memory due to their nine goals, contentious VAR decisions, and elimination of the four-time World Cup champion at the group stage, precisely as Germany at Russia 2018.
Spain and Germany faced off against Japan and Costa Rica; before the World Cup began, two nations whom most soccer analysts believed had little chance of getting through to the round of 16 were defeated by one European powerhouse, Belgium, who had been eliminated.
Despite forecasts, this evening could have ended with any of the four teams moving on to the next round.
Both European teams appeared destined to advance from the group after the first quarter of an hour of both games. At the Al Bayt Stadium, Serge Gnabry’s goal in the 10th minute gave Germany a crucial advantage as it fought to revive its qualification hopes after a poor start to its campaign when it unexpectedly lost to Japan.
Spain took the lead at the Khalifa International Stadium when Morata headed in a beautiful cross from right back César Azpilicueta.
After Telmo Zarra in 1950, Morata is now the 2ng player to score in his first three World Cup games for Spain, according to Opta.
Following the goal, with both European teams in the qualification spots, Spain and Germany took control of the game for the remainder of the first half, with Spain retaining 78% of possession and Germany holding on to 65% as they respectively limited the openings for the other team.
However, the European teams’ dominance was soon to be challenged; in both games, just minutes into the second half, the scenario in the group had entirely shifted.
As he did in the illustrious triumph over Germany, Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu skillfully utilized his substitutes. He introduced D’an, and his left-footed goal leveled the score for Japan.
Later, Tanaka gave the Samurai Blue a startling lead that put the team in danger.
However, Tanaka’s accomplishment wasn’t without controversy. A VAR review determined that the ball hadn’t left the field before Tanaka finished off the cross to score.
Yeltsin Tejeda scored on a rebound after Manuel Neuer could not stop a strong effort from Kendall Waston as Costa Rica tied the game against Germany just as things appeared like they couldn’t get crazier – and completely against the flow of play.
However, the mental calculations for coaches, players, and spectators had only begun.
After a wild scuffle in the goalmouth, Juan Pablo Vargas nudged the ball home to give Costa Rica a surprising lead and put Germany down.
Both previous World Cup champions, Spain and Germany, were in danger of losing with just over 20 minutes left in the two games.
The dreams of Costa Rica were swiftly dashed as a quick-fire double from substitute Kai Havertz, and a late goal from Niclas Füllkrug assured Germany would win three points following a wild evening.
Luis Enrique’s team was now proving a lifeline to Luis’s side going out of the group and consigning Germany to finish third thanks to Spain’s 7-0 victory over Costa Rica in its opening group game, which ensured a healthy goal difference.
Spain’s goal was essential for Germany to return to the qualifying spots. Despite seven minutes of extra time, Spain could not penetrate a staunch Japanese defense and never really tested goalkeeper Shichi Gonda.
Spain coach Enrique was disappointed with his team’s performance as his team narrowly survived, thanks to their goal differential.
“I am not at all content. Yes, we have qualified, albeit I would have also preferred to have won this game. This was impossible since Japan scored 2 goals in the space of five minutes; as a result, we were eliminated and decimated, according to Enrique,” as quoted by Reuters.