Germany's Kai Havertz celebrates scoring their third goal against Costa Rica with Niclas Fullkrug during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar, on December 1, 2022. EUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 in a thrilling match, but the four-time champions failed to make it past the group stage for the second successive World Cup as Japan stunned Spain in the other Group E match to finish top of the group with Spain second.
Goals from Serge Gnabry, a brace from Kai Havertz and another goal by Niclas Fullkrug were not enough for the 2014 champions, who needed to outscore Spain’s superior goal difference to have a chance.
Costa Rica led with 20 minutes to go after an equaliser from Yeltsin Tejeda, and Juan Pablo Vargas put them 2-1 up in front of 67,054 spectators at the Al Bayt Stadium. Costa Rica could have qualified alongside Japan with a win.
Questions will now be asked of Germany coach Hansi Flick who had told reporters he’d remain as boss of the team even if they fail to make it to the next round.
Germany started the match on the attack and had the first attempt at goal and were rewarded with a corner as Keylor Navas pushed out Jamal Musiala’s effort. Thomas Muller missed a sitter as Joshua Kimmich’s well-floated effort found the veteran forward, who got the nod to start, unmarked, but he somehow failed to find the target from just outside the six-yard box.
However, the Germans were not to be denied as Gnabry bagged his first goal of the tournament in the 10th minute. Germany won the ball in the middle of the park before David Raum sent a lovely cross into the box for the Bayern Munich forward to head home with Navas on the stretch.
Serge Gnabry scores Germany’s first goal. REUTERS
Costa Rica struggled to deal with the balls into the box, and Muller forced Navas into a save from another header.
Los Ticos finally made their first foray into the German box, but Joel Campbell completely missed Bryan Oviedo’s teasing cross. While Navas almost made a mess of a routine catch from Kimmich’s effort, but the PSG man recovered quickly to hold on, with Muller lurking.
The fleet-footed Musiala dragged an effort just wide after dancing around the Costa Rica defence, who had difficulty dealing with the teenager. It was all Germany in the first half, and Gnabry created some space but his curling effort.
Germany almost gifted Costa Rica an easy goal just before half-time. Raum and Antonio Rudiger failed to clear a simple ball over the top, but Manuel Neuer was on hand to parry out from Keysher Fuller’s strike, which was aimed directly at the Bayern man.
At the other end, Leroy Sane dribbled his way into space. However, the Bayern Munich star could only shoot wide.
In the second-half, Germany pressed for more goals at the start, but news of Japan leading Spain filtered in, and Costa Rica moved into another gear, smelling a chance to book their place in the next round. The Central Americans equalised in the 58th minute as Kendal Waston met Fuller’s cross, but Neuer could only push onto the path of Tejeda, who bundled home.
Serge Gnabry celebrates with the ball after scoring Germany's first goal. Pic: Abdul Basit
Germany upped the ante, and Musiala almost put them ahead, but the forward’s effort bounced off the post. Musiala again hit the post with a curler, with Navas scrambling.
Costa Rica’s resilience soon paid off, and they took the lead 20 minutes from time, leaving Germany shell-shocked. Germany failed to clear an aerial ball, and Juan Pablo Vargas bundled home from close range.
Los Ticos didn’t have time to enjoy the lead when three minutes later, Hervertz pulled the Europeans level with a cool finish past Navas from Fullkrug’s flick.
Germany desperately searched for more goals, and Navas kept Los Ticos in the match with a point-blank save from Fullkrug, who should have done better.
Musiala went on another dazzling run again, but the young striker chose to shoot when the better option would have been setting up a teammate.
Havertz grabbed his brace and put Germany ahead five minutes from time. The Chelsea forward lost his marker before stabbing home Gnabry’s cross from close range.
Referee Stephanie Frappart and assistant referees Neuza Back and Karen Diaz, the first female trio to officiate a FIFA World Cup match, during yesterday's match between Costa Rica and Germany. REUTERS
It was 4-2 soon enough for the Germans in the 89th minute as Fullkrug slotted home from close range.
“As you can imagine, everybody is very disappointed,” Flick told a press conference after the match.
“I think that during the first-half, we weren’t able to score despite having many chances. The potential was there. If we had scored more goals, we put pressure on the opponent. We, unfortunately, couldn’t do so.”
“I am not looking to find excuses. Against Spain, we worked very well and had a compact defence. It would have been good to beat Spain and reward ourselves with more goals, but unfortunately, we couldn’t,” the German boss added.
