A new World Cup drama for Germany. After the elimination in the group stage in 2018, things went completely wrong again on Thursday evening.
The team of national coach Hansi Flick had to watch as Japan dealt with Spain: 2-1. Because of that result, Germany was out despite a 4-2 win over Costa Rica.
Sensationally playing Japan wins the group and encounter Croatia. Spain is number 2 through and encounters group winner Morocco.
Germany lags behind
Germany became world champion in 2014, but did not even survive the group stage four years ago. And this time too, the start was dramatic. The eventual group winner Japan turned out to be 2-1 too strong. The draw that followed against Spain turned out to be a reason for positivity, but now it is over for one of the greatest footballing countries in history.
Germany started well against Costa Rica. Thanks to a goal from Serge Gnabry, our eastern neighbors were already 1-0 ahead after ten minutes. In the remainder of the first half, the Germans failed to run further.
Quick 1-0
When Japan turned a 0-1 lead against Spain into a lead after the break, with another scoring Ritsu Doan (ex-FC Groningen), the Germans lost heart. Yeltsin Tejeda equalized after 58 minutes. eight years ago several times the post, but Costa Rica took the lead after 70 minutes as Juan Pablo Vargas scored.
At that time, Costa Rica had even qualified for the eighth finals and Spain was virtually eliminated. The joy was short-lived, however, as Kai Havertz equalized three minutes later after a fluent attacker.
The 23-year-old attacker from Chelsea then also made it 3-2, but it didn’t matter, because Japan held on to the lead against the Spaniards, who are also placed number two in the group and encounter Morocco. Due to Niclas Füllkrug’s 4-2, a goal from Spain would have been enough for Germany to qualify, but that did not happen. And so there is again talk of a German World Cup drama.