Germany complies but goes home
The German team, which soundly beat Costa Rica, was eliminated by Japan’s victory over Spain
MADRID, 1 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The German team has been eliminated from the World Cup in Qatar despite their victory against Costa Rica (2-4) on the third and final day of the group stage, in a match in which Hansi Flick’s men did their homework, with a double from Kai Havertz, but in which they said goodbye due to Spain’s surprising defeat against Japan.
The German team, against the ropes, needed to overcome the ‘ticos’ and that the Japanese – who surprised them on the first day – did not do the same against Luis Enrique’s men. The triumph of the ‘blue samurai’ (2-1) neutralized their solid victory and sent them, for the second consecutive World Cup, home in the group stage. Nor could Costa Rica prolong its dream and was likewise eliminated.
With the entry of Leroy Sané for Thilo Kehrer regarding the duel of the second day against Spain, the ‘Mannschaft’ made their intentions clear from the initial whistle, with a shot by Jamal Musiala from outside the area after two minutes before the one who had The goalkeeper Keylor Navas has to act.
A header from Thomas Müller continued the German siege, which found its prize soon after in a new lateral cross; David Raum, from the left, hung a ball that Serge Gnabry, with his head, sent into the back of the net (min.10). The Germans picked up the ball quickly and did not take their foot off the accelerator.
Navas did manage to clear a header from Leon Goretzka at the far post before the quarter hour mark, while Hansi Flick’s men continued to grow. Musiala was able to increase the score at minute 36, but finished poorly after entering the area, and Gnabry brushed the corner of the Costa Rican goal with a new shot.
The clearest of the Central American team was made to wait until near the break, when Keysher Fuller failed to take advantage of the lack of understanding of the German defense and stood alone against Manuel Neuer, who prevailed in the one-on-one.
The murmurs were felt in the stands of Al Bayt with the news that came from the Khalifa International Stadium, first with the Japanese draw against Spain and only three minutes later, with Ao Tanaka’s goal that put the team ahead Asian and eliminated Germany.
With everyone looking at Doha, the surprise jumped on the field; after a clearance from the Teutonic goalkeeper, Joel Campbell caught the rebound and served for Yeltsin Tejeda to tie the contest (min.58). The madness had only just begun.
Everything went up in the air in minute 70, when, after a German stretch with Musiala crashing two balls off the post, Juan Vargas took advantage of a new Campbell cross to make it 2-1, with the help of Neuer, and Costa Rica in eighths; Spain was out.
However, Kai Havertz, who had entered the pitch shortly before, cut short the joy of Luis Fernando Suárez’s team with the equalizing goal (min.73). Japan continued to lead Group E, while Luis Enrique’s men came back to life.
The Chelsea midfielder appeared again to put the Germans ahead (min.85), but, with the Japanese victory, it was insufficient for a team that increased the score with another goal from Niclas Füllkrug (min.89). For the first time in its history, Germany fell in the group stage for the second consecutive World Cup.
–RESULT: COSTA RICA, 2 – GERMANY, 4 (0-1, at halftime).
COSTA RICA: Keylor Navas; Fuller (Bennette, min.74), Duarte, Waston, Vargas, Oviedo (Contreras, min.93); Borges, Tejeda (Wilson, min.93); Aguilera (Salas, min.46), Venegas (Matarrita, min.74) and Campbell.
ALEMANIA: New; Kimmich, Süle (Ginter, min. 93), Rüdiger, Raum (Götze, min. 66); Gündogan (jug, min. 55), Goretzka (Klostermann, min. 46), Gnabry, Musiala, Sané; y Müller (Havertz, min.66).
0-1, min.10: Gnabry.
1-1, min.58: Tejeda.
2-1, min.70: Neuer, own goal.
2-2, min.73: Havertz.
2-3, min.85: Havertz.
2-4, min.89: filling jug.
–REFEREE: Stephanie Frappart (FRA). She admonished Óscar Duarte (min.77) by Costa Rica.
–ESTADIO: Al Bayt.
–INCIDENTS: The French collegiate Stéphanie Frappart became the first woman in history to serve as the main referee in a match in the final phase of a men’s World Cup. The Brazilian Neuza Back and the Mexican Karen Díaz completed the first all-female trident in a World Cup as assistant referees.
