In a very busy match, Germany defeated Costa Rica by 4 to 2, this Thursday afternoon (1) at the Al Bayt Stadium. However, the result was insufficient for the Germans to reach the round of 16 of the Qatar Cup, as they were in third place in Group E of the competition.
A six-goal thriller to round off Group E for #CRC ?? #GER@adidasfootball ?? #FIFAWorldCup
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2022
It is difficult to understand what has happened to German football in recent World Cups. Four-time champions in Brazil in 2014, the Germans fell in the first phase at the World Cup in Russia (2018). Nobody expected that, four years later, the team of Thomas Müller and company would again fail so early.
Germany and Costa Rica had already faced each other in the 2006 World Cup. In Munich, the Germans won by 4 to 2, a score that was repeated this Thursday. Since then, times have changed, so much so that who could imagine that there would be a World Cup in an Arab country and, more than that, that the match held at Al Bayt Stadium would be refereed for the first time by a judge, the French Stéphanie Frappart, 38 years old, helped by the linesman Neuza Inês Back, from Santa Catarina.
? ?????? ?#FIFAWorldCup ?? #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/7yIfiSX7AO
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2022
German strength remained the same. After just 2 minutes, the Costa Rican goalkeeper Navas was required in a strong kick by Musiala. At 4, Gnabry, completely offside, also hit the target, but the goalkeeper brushed it away. Needing the victory to qualify for the round of 16, it was natural that the pressure from the four-time world champions was insane in the first moments. Even more normal was Germany opening the scoring after 9 minutes: Raum crossed and Serge Gnabry tested in the corner of Navas: 1 to 0.
Taking over the game, strangely, Germany did not maintain the same goal hunger. The winger Gnabry, from Bayern Munich (Germany), was the best attacking option, but his crosses were not used in the area. Only at the 34th minute, in a kick from outside the area by Kimmich, goalkeeper Navas was again tested, picking up in two halves. And at 39, after clearing the defenders, Gnabry kicked with a curve, but outside.
Finally, in the 42nd minute, after two successive errors by the German defense, the Costa Rican Fuller came face to face with Neuer, kicked hard, but the goalkeeper spread it over the goal. A very rare chance to happen and it was wasted.
In the 2nd half, knowing that they needed to score a lot of goals to qualify (in the other group game, Japan was 2-1 in Spain), Germany had no choice but to get out of its lethargy. It was necessary to score. But, in the 12th minute, after Neuer hit a header forward, Tejada struck the goalkeeper, tying the game at 1-1.
??? They’re not quite done yet…@fedefutbolcrc ?? #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/rJnpm5W8g2
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2022
The German reaction came with Musiala, appearing free in the area and kicking diagonally, whimsically the ball hit the post by Navas. Then, in a low cross, Rüdiger entered with a cart and hit the post again.
Musiala was really unlucky. In the 21st minute he took a risk from outside the area and, once again, the ball exploded in the very same Costa Rican left post.
The unbelievable happened in the 24th minute, with a cross in the German area and a mistake by Neuer, who went up and found nothing, trying to defend at the top, Vargas managed to put the ball in the German goal, a turn that shocked the 67 thousand spectators present at Al Bayt.
On the way out, Germany tied the game again, when the ball was left clean for the reserve Kai Havertz, who gave a touch taking it from Navas.
The game won in emotion. At 30 minutes, the incredible goalkeeper Navas made a great save inside the small area in a shot by Füllkrug.
Finally, the world of football returned to normal when the cross into the area found the sole of Kai Havertz’s boot, in the 39th minute, to break the tie and put the four-time champions in front.
In the 43rd minute, Niclas Füllkrug completed for Navas, but the assistant scored offside. The bid then went to the review of the VAR (video referee), who later confirmed the legality of the goal: 4 to 2.
The rout was of no use, as, with 4 points and only one goal difference, Germany fell out of the Cup early. Spain, also with 4 points, scored 6 goals and qualified in second place in Group E. The leader was Japan, while Costa Rica was the bottom of the key.
Group And we will never forget you. ??#FIFAWorldCup ?? #Qatar2022
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 1, 2022
If it’s any consolation, four years from now there’s a new World Cup and Fifa has increased the number of direct places for Europeans to 16 teams.
