Germany have crashed out of the FIFA 2022 World Cup despite defeating Costa Rica 4-2 in their last group game.
Head to Head
Costa Rica have faced Germany once in a competitive game. The two teams clashed in the opening match of the 2006 World Cup, with Germany emerging triumphant with a 4-2 win.
Against CONCACAF opponents, the Germans have only lost once, winning six times and drawing one in all their meetings.
Costa Rica have been the weeping boys against European opponents, winning only once in their 11 meetings, with five draws and five losses.
In the tournament, Costa Rica suffered a heavy opening defeat against Spain before securing all three points against Japan. A win against Germany would see them go through. Germany, on the hand, suffered a shock defeat against Japan before settling for a 1-1 draw with Spain. They needed a win and hoped Spain beat Japan before they could go through.
Team News
Hansi Flick made only one change in the squad that settled for a 1-1 draw against Spain. Luis Sane replaced Kehrer.
Costa Rica effected three changes to the squad that defeated Japan. Vargas replaced Francisco, Venegas came in for Contreras, and Aguilera replaced Torres.
Starting Lineup
Costa Rica: Keylor Navas; Oscar Duarte, Kendall Waston, Juan Pablo Vargas; Keysher Fuller, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Bryan Oviedo; Brandon Aguilera, Joel Campbell; Johan Venegas
Germany: Manuel Neuer; Joshua Kimmich, Niklas Sule, Antonio Rudiger, David Raum; Ilkay Gundogan, Leon Goretzka; Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane; Thomas Muller.
First Half Report
Germany started on a good note, as expected, and dominated play as the first half began. They created a series of early chances and finally got an early goal just 10 minutes into the game.
Bayern Munich forward Serge Gnabry gave the Germans the lead after heading home a cross from Raum.
He quickly picked up the ball and returned to the center for a restart. The Germans needed two goals to qualify from the group and hoped Spain beat Japan.
After the first goal, Germany still dominated the game and pushed hard for a second goal but could not convert the numerous chances they created.
Meanwhile, Costa Rica nearly pulled a 42nd-minute shocker after Antonio Rudiger fumbled, leaving Fuller to come one-on-one with Manuel Neuer.
Fuller nearly made it count trying to tip the ball over Neuer, but the German goalkeeper tipped it over.
The first half ended with the Germans leading by a narrow margin, still leaving their round of 16 hopes hanging.
Second Half Report
Hansi Flick made a quick substitution as the second half began. He subbed off Aguilera and Goretzka for Sala and Klostermann.
Surprisingly it was Costa Rica who started the second half brightly, trying to push for an equaliser.
Hansi Flick then subbed off Gundogan for Fullkrug to try and chisel the game and create more momentum in the attack.
Costa Rica continued to push for an equaliser with excellent and quick counterattacks and finally equalised the game in the 58th minute.
Tejeda scored for the Costa Ricans after he rushed to volley home a rebound from his header. It was a nightmare for the Germans. They needed a win to keep their round of 16 hopes alive while banking on Spain to beat Japan.
The goal triggered a massive response from Germany, as they pulled themselves together and wrestled the game from their opponents to return to the lead.
A spirited response by the Hansi Flick-led team saw them hit the post two times in less than two minutes.
Flick then took out Muller and Raum for Havertz and Gotze respectively, exhausting all possible substitutions in the game.
In the 70th minute, Germany’s effort to get back into the game suffered a severe blow after Manuel Neuer scored an own goal after directing Vargas’ flicker into his own net to give Costa Rica the lead.
However, three minutes later, substitute and Chelsea forward Kai Havertz scored to level the game.
Costa Rica made some substitutions to try and get something out of the game, but that did not really help as Kai Haverrz scored again in the 83rd minute to restore Germany’s lead.
Another substitute, Fullkrug, scored again in the 89th minute. The goal was controversial, but after the VAR check, it was upheld.
The Germans secured a 4-2 win over Costa Rica after the final whistle, but it was still gloomy as they crashed out of the tournament after Spain’s 2-1 defeat to Japan.
Full Highlights
