Costa Rica 2-4 Germany
FIFA World Cup
Group E
Al Bayt Stadium
Attendance: 67,054
For the second time in a row, Germany has lost in the group stage of a World Cup. Although national coach Hansi Flick’s team won against Costa Rica, it finished third because competitor Japan beat Spain .
Germany could benefit from a big victory and therefore quickly went on the offensive. In the ninth minute, Thomas Müller headed wide from a promising position, but Serge Gnabry opened the score a minute later. The attacker was free in the penalty area, received a cross from David Raum and nodded against the goal in the far corner.
Germany had several chances before the break to double the margin. Jamal Musiala soloed through the Costa Rica penalty area ten minutes before half-time and shot wide. A shot placed by Gnabry also sailed the wrong side of the post. Still, Costa Rica also got a huge chance to score. After a misunderstanding between Raum and Antonio Rüdiger, Keysher Fuller suddenly appeared in front of Manuel Neuer’s goal, who prevented the equalizer with an outstretched arm.
A few minutes later, Stéphanie Frappart, the first ever female referee in a World Cup match, whistled for the half-time signal. There seemed to be little going on for Germany, but things went wrong in the second half. Manuel Neuer did not hold the ball after a headbutt from Kendall Waston and saw Yeltsin Tejeda use the rebound. Musiala then hit the post twice and Costa Rica seemed to provide a gigantic stunt. Neuer missed a chaotic situation and Juan Pablo Vargas made it 2-1 with a last touch.
Germany quickly recovered, as Kai Havertz received the ball in the penalty area from Niclas Füllkrug and fired decisively. However, that was not enough to convert: Germany had to win and at the same time hoped that Spain would make it 2-2 against Japan. With a fantastic reflex, Keylor Navas prevented Füllkrug’s 2-3, but in the end Havertz secured the victory through a sharp cross from Gnabry. Later Füllkrug also made it 2-4. Because Spain did not make up the deficit against Japan. Germany was stranded in the group stage of the World Cup for the second time in a row.
