Bundesliga

2022-12-01T17:55:00Z

Costa Rica 2-4 Germany: as it happened

Can Germany beat Costa Rica to reach the World Cup knockout stages?
Can Germany beat Costa Rica to reach the World Cup knockout stages?

All eyes will be on Jamal Musiala as Germany look to pick up their first win of the 2022 World Cup against Costa Rica and book their place in the last 16 on Thursday (kick-off: 8pm CET).

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2 - 4(0 - 1)
Costa Rica
FINAL
Germany
FIFA World Cup Group E, Matchday 3 Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor, Qatar
90' +9
vs

MUSIALA HAS A GO

Another dribble, another shot, but Navas saves.

90' +8
vs

JAPAN BEAT SPAIN

That is that in Group E. Japan have beaten Spain and will go through as section winners, with Spain in second place. Germany and Costa Rica will be heading for home.

90' +5
vs

GERMANY PUSHING

Flick's side are still on the hunt for more goals but Costa Rica are packing the box and somehow managing to get a block every time a Germany player shoots.

90' +2
vs

ADDED TIME

We're into the second of 10 minutes of stoppage time.

89'
vs

FÜLLKRUG GETS HIS GOAL

That's now three goals in four Germany appearances for Füllkrug as he finishes from close range from Sane's pass. It adds gloss to the scoreline but does little to affect matters in the grand scheme of things.

89'
vs
Niclas Füllkrug

GOAL!

2:4
87'
vs

GERMANY NEED A FAVOUR

There's not a lot more Germany can do - other than not concede again. They now need Spain to equalise against Japan to have a chance of reaching the last 16.

85'
vs

HERE WE GO!

A delicious cross from the right from Gnabry, behind the defence and in front of the goalkeeper. It picks out Havertz and the back post and the former Leverkusen forward doesn't miss from close range!

85'
vs
Kai Havertz

GOAL!

2:3
83'
vs

OVER FROM MUSIALA

How does he do it? The midfielder shimmies his way past three defenders as if they weren't even there, setting himself up for a shot. But he's leaning back as he strikes at and the ball sails over.

80'
vs

BENNETTE FIRES OVER

Costa Rica suddenly have a spring in their step and look confident and dangerous going forward. Bennette comes in off the right and shoots, but it's high and off target.

76'
vs

MONSTER SAVE FROM NAVAS!

Germany break forward at pace and look certain to score as Sane, on the left, crosses for the unmarked Füllkrug. The Bremen forward hits the cross first time but Navas pulls off an unbelievable save to put the ball out for a corner.

75'
vs

BOTH TEAMS MUST WIN

As a reminder, a draw is not good enough for either of these teams to go through. Both will be heading home if there are no more goals in Group E.

72'
vs

BACK IN IT!

Havertz gets Germany back on a level footing with a smart finish after collecting a through-ball. We're in for a rip-roaring finale here!

72'
vs
Kai Havertz

GOAL!

2:2
70'
vs

COSTA RICA LEAD!

It's a scrappy goal but they all count! Germany struggle to deal with a free-kick from the left and lose a couple of headers in the box. The ball pings around and comes off Juan Vargas before rolling into the net from close range!

70'
vs
JUAN VARGAS

GOAL!

2:1
67'
vs

GERMANY GOING ALL IN

Mario Götze and Kai Havertz are now on the pitch as Flick throws caution to the wind in a bid for goals.

66'
vs
Kai Havertz
David Raum
67'
vs

WOODWORK AGAIN!

Musiala hits the same post with a sumptuous curler from the edge of the box. The ball just won't go in for Germany!

67'
vs
Mario Götze
Thomas Müller
65'
vs

BRILLIANT FROM RAUM

The Leipzig left-back pings an inviting ball from the left across the face of goal. It's crying out for someone to throw themselves at it, but there's nobody near enough to do so.

62'
vs

AS IT STANDS

Japan will go through as Group E winners if both results stay the same, with Spain in second place. Costa Rica are third, with Germany bottom on two points.

62'
vs

POST AGAIN!

Kimmich slides a teasing ball in from the right. Rüdiger gets there first at the near post but his shot strikes the outside of the post and bounces out of play!

60'
vs

MUSIALA HITS THE POST!

Musiala drives forward and shots with his left foot. It strikes the base of the post and bounces back to him but he can't keep the rebound down and it flies over.

58'
vs

WELL, WELL, WELL

Costa Rica are level! It's very much out of the blue but that has thrown a spanner in the works for Germany. Neuer can't hold a header from Campbell and can only parry it into Tejeda's path and he makes no mistake from close range!

58'
vs
Yeltsin Tejeda

GOAL!

1:1
55'
vs

SUPER SUB COMES ON!

Hansi Flick reacts to the news from the Japan game by bringing on striker Niclas Füllkrug, who scored the late equaliser against Spain.

55'
vs
Niclas Füllkrug
Ilkay Gündogan
53'
vs

UH-OH GERMANY

Japan have now taken the lead against Spain, turning the game on its head after being 1-0 down to lead 2-1. Germany now need goals and lots of them.

53'
vs

LOVELY FROM MUSIALA

The 19-year-old effortlessly glides past a couple of defenders on the left and crosses into the middle, but it's blocked by a defender's leg.

48'
vs

CHANGE FOR GERMANY

One half-time change for Germany with Leipzig's Lukas KLostermann coming on for Leon Goretzka. Kimmich will push up into midfield now, with Klostermann at right-back.

46'
vs
Lukas Klostermann
Leon Goretzka
47'
vs

JAPAN EQUALISE

Freiburg's Ritsu Doan has just equlised for Japan against Spain, which spells bad news for Germany. Japan go second if the scores stay the same.

46'
vs

PEEEEEEP!

Costa Rica get the action under way once more.

0 - 0

Kick-off!

0 - 0

Half-time

45'
vs

SANE REPLIES

The Bayern winger tries his luck from distance but his shot is always rising and it goes well over.

43'
vs

FULLER MUST EQUALISE!

A long ball forward presents Costa Rica with an unexpected chance. Rüdiger fails to deal with the ball and Fuller nips in ahead of him, darting into the box and is suddenly face-to-face with Manuel Neuer. He lashes a fierce shot at goal that Neuer does brilliantly to tip over for a corner. What a let-off for Germany!

39'
vs

GNABRY GOES CLOSE!

Lovely skill from Gnabry as he collects the ball on the left, turning his marker as he controls the ball before jinking past another defender and curling a shot towards the far post. It's close, but just the wrong side of the upright.

36'
vs

MUSIALA MUST SCORE!

More jaw-dropping skill from the Bayern teenager to beat his marker and then dribble into the box. He does everything right but then skews his shot horribly wide from 12 yards!

34'
vs

AND AGAIN!

Kimmich's powerful, swerving shot from outside the box almost outfoxes Navas, who spills the ball as he attempts to gather to his chest. Goretzka is alert to the rebound but his path is blocked by a defender and Navas collects at the second attempt.

33'
vs

KIMMICH AGAIN

Germany patiently work the ball from left to right and back again as they probe for openings. It eventually comes to Kimmich, who is given time to curl another teasing cross in from the right, but it's too strong for Müller in the middle.

29'
vs

FIRST GLIMPSE FOR COSTA RICA

Oviedo delivers a cross from the left into the box and picks out Campbell, who slips just as he's preparing to strike and ends up swiping his left boot in the air. It was a tricky one to take as the ball was slightly behind him, but that's the best chance Los Ticos have had so far.

26'
vs

RAUM ON THE OVERLAP

The Costa Rica defence are clearly wary of Musiala, and back off him whenever he turns and gets the ball. It's a risky strategy, as he picks out Raum overlapping on the left and his cross into the middle is a good one but the box is just too crowded.

22'
vs

PARKING THE BUS

Costa Rica are shifting to a 5-4-1 formation when not in possession - which is most of the time. Germany are doing their utmost to break through those lines with some quick, one-touch passing. It's the kind of game that suits Musiala's skill set perfectly.

18'
vs

ONE-SIDED

The match has been played almost exclusively inside Costa Rica's half, with Germany bossing it all over the pitch. They'll need another couple of goals though, as 1-0 remains a precarious scoreline given the stakes.

15'
vs

GORETZKA SURELY?!?!

It's been widely reported that Kimmich prefers playing in central midfield but it's clear to see why he's also regarded as a world-class right-back. He pings in ANOTHER inch-perfect cross from the right, this time for Goretzka, but the Bayern midfielder heads just wide at the back post.

12'
vs

SPAIN IN FRONT

Good news for Germany in the other group E game, where Alvaro Morata has just headed Spain 1-0 up against Japan. If both results hold, Spain will go through as section winners, with Germany also progressing as runners-up.

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Werder Bremen's Niclas Füllkrug was the man who rescued a 1-1 draw for Germany with a thunderous late strike against Spain on Sunday, but it was assist provider Musiala who drew most of the plaudits for his electric performance in attacking midfield. "He can be the Messi of the future!" former Germany captain and Bundesliga Legend Lothar Matthäus said of the Bayern Munich teenager, who looks sure to retain his place in Hansi Flick's starting XI. Leroy Sane also impressed after coming off the bench, and having recovered from a knee strain he is likely to start alongside Bayern teammates Musiala and Thomas Müller in attack. Füllkrug could also slot in at centre-forward after netting his second international goal in some style, with Serge Gnabry dropping to the bench. Further back, Flick is expected to stick with his four-man backline. Thilo Kehrer should start at right-back as RB Leipzig's Lukas Klostermann continues to build fitness following a lengthy ankle injury.

After their 7-0 demolition at the hands of Spain, Costa Rica were expected to bow out of the tournament when they faced Japan – but instead the Central Americans stunned the Samurai Blue thanks to a late goal from Keysher Fuller. "It was a moment of happiness, but we're already thinking about our next game," admitted teenage winger Jewison Bennete. "Germany are strong opponents, with a lot of quality." As they prepare to face the four-time world champions for just the second time – they lost 4-2 in the group stage at the 2006 World Cup, at Bayern's Allianz ArenaLa Tricolor shouldn't make too many changes, although suspended centre-back Francisco Calvo is set to be replaced by Daniel Chacon. The team's captain and talisman, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Keylor Navas, will have the unenviable task of trying to keep Musiala and Co. quiet at Al Bayt Stadium.

Watch: Analysing magical Musiala

Match stats

CONFIRMED teams

Costa Rica: Navas (c) – Duarte, Waston, Vargas – Fuller (Bennette 74'), Borges, Tejeda (Wilson 90'+3), Oviedo (Contreras 90'+3) – Aguilera (Salas 46'), Campbell – Venegas (Matarrita 74')
Unused subs:
Brown, Sequeira, Martinez, Chacon, Ruiz, Torres, Lopez, Hernandez, Zamora
Out:
Calvo (suspended)
Coach:
Luis Fernando Suarez

Germany: Neuer (c) – Kimmich, Süle (Ginter 90'+3), Rüdiger, Raum (Havertz 66') – Gündogan (Füllkrug 54'), Goretzka (Klostermann 46') – Gnabry, Musiala, Sane - Müller (Götze 66')
Unused subs:
Trapp, ter Stegen, Kehrer, Günter, Schlotterbeck, Bella-Kotchap, Brandt, Hofmann, Adeyemi, Moukoko
Out:
-
Coach:
Hansi Flick

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