2022 FIFA World Cup Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 in their final Group A match on Thursday (1 December) at Al Bayt Stadium, but they were still eliminated in stunning fashion.
They needed a win and for the results to go their way after losing their first match against Japan and drawing their match against Spain. However, Japan defeated Spain 2-1 in a stunning upset, knocking out Germany and Costa Rica.
Despite suggestions that the ball was out of play during the buildup, VAR allowed Ao Tanaka’s finish to stand, resulting in Japan’s victory in contentious circumstances.
Since Hansi Flick’s team was eliminated in the group stage, the four-time world champions have lost in the first round of two World Cups in a row.
However, they started off the game in excellent form.
With teenager Jamal Musiala putting Kaylor Navas to the test from outside the box, the Germans got the game off to a fast start.
In the seventh minute, Thomas Muller headed wide from an excellent cross from Joshua Kimmich while unmarked after Musiala’s close dribbling.
The Mannschaft, on the other hand, was only a matter of time away from proceeding. David Braum was found on the left wing by Musiala, who was in charge of the midfield. Serge Gnabry nailed the cross from the fullback perfectly in the tenth minute.
As the Costa Rican defense was in sixes and sevens, the Germans were in full flow, passing the ball precisely and quickly. With close calls on goal, Leon Goretzka and Gnabry came close to doubling their lead.
Keysher Fuller, on the other hand, was one-on-one with the keeper because of two defensive mistakes made by Anthony Rudiger and Braum in the same move. However, Neuer tipped his powerful shot over the bar in the 41st minute.
The ball fell kindly to Yeltsin Tejeda, who was rushing in and equalized with a fine low finish to the left corner in the 58th minute
After a free kick from the right side into the box in the 70th minute, Juan Pablo Vargas bundled the ball over the line from the melee to give Costa Rica the lead. The Central Americans were ahead of Japan and proceeding.
However, the German blitzkrieg was too strong, despite Navas’s miraculous saves. Niclas Fullkrug came on and added another goal in the 89th minute to give the Germans the victory.
Kai Havertz came on and scored two goals from fine German moves in the 73rd and 85th minutes, respectively.
After receiving a through ball from Fullkrug, Havertz lifted it past Navas to score his first goal. His second goal came from a cross that he turned over the line from the wing from Gnabry.
Sane chested a Kimmich ball into the box in front of Fullkrug, who scored.
However, the victory was in vain as Japan advanced on top of Group E, a group that, after a series of intense battles, proved to be the group of death, with six points. Spain came in second with four points, beating Germany on a goal difference.
#5 Hit- Serge Gnabry (Germany)
This game saw the winger return to his imperious best. Gnabry not only participated in the buildup play, but he also used his twinkle toes and excellent positional awareness to get into scoring positions.
He also opened the scoring for Germany when he scored his 21st goal. He scored with a header for the national team, his first World Cup goal.
He also made four crucial passes that night and contributed to one of Havertz’s goals.
#4 Flop – Keysher Fuller (Costa Rica)
The whole Costa Rican guard made some unfortunate memories. However, Raum and Gnabry’s threat down the left wing made it difficult for right-back Fuller to contain them, and the first goal came through that pocket. He also missed a golden opportunity to tie the game in the final minutes of the first half.
#3 Hit: Kai Havertz (Germany)
Kai Havertz came on and changed the game’s tone. He took his two objectives actually pleasantly with perfect completions and furthermore passed the ball around in style. Germany won thanks to Havertz’s goals, who completed 82% of his passes and had three shots on goal.
#2 Flop: Johan Venegas (Costa Rica)
He started the game as Costa Rica’s sole forward, but despite some dicey German defense, he never got into the game. while his team responded with goals from other players, he failed to make any attempts at a goal. departed in the 74th minute as Costa Rica attempted to score a goal.
#1 Hit: Jamal Musiala (Germany)
The 19-year-old has been Germany’s best player in the group stages of the World Cup. Musiala is an offensive midfielder who can do it all. He can move quickly, dribble brilliantly, pass with dexterity, and shoot well.
In the midst of a line of luminaries, Musiala was Germany’s primary string-puller in the park’s center. The star player from Bayern Munich will compete in numerous World Cups in the future, but he and his nation will suffer heartbreak this year.
Special mention: Kaylor Navas (Hit)-
The veteran pulled off a few dazzling recoveries in spite of his side going down.