After last night’s group fixture finales for Groups E and F of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, winless Denmark is no longer the biggest disappointment of the tournament since Germany and Belgium have also bowed out of the quadrennial tournament. For Die Mannschaft, it is also their second elimination in as many World Cups, after emerging the winner for the 2014 edition in Brazil with a win over Messi’s Argentina. The four-time former champion’s catastrophic exit from the tournament came after Japan controversially beat another former champion, Spain with a 2-1 comeback victory.
Die Mannschaft Overcame Costa Rica but It Was a Little Too Late
Germany has not been playing well in the entire tournament, with only 1 point out of a possible 6 collected during their two opening matches. Nevertheless, last night’s display against Costa Rica was superb and definitely the best Hansi Flick’s side has played in this year’s competition. Despite down 1-2 against their Central American opponent after taking an early lead in the 10th minute through a Serge Ganbry header, Die Mannschaft fought back and scored three goals in the span of 16 minutes, including a brace from Chelsea’s Kai Havertz, to win the game 4-2.
The victory gave Germany four points and a one-goal differential as a whole, which means they would have gone through to the Round of 16 if Spain can at least secure a draw against Japan. Sadly, this did not happen and Die Mannschaft was eliminated in the group stage for the second time in a row.
Spain Finished Second Despite a Loss Against Samurai Blue
In the other final Group E match between Spain and Japan. La Roja took the lead in the 11th minute, courtesy of another Álvaro Morata goal, and the Atlético Madrid forward became joint-top scorer with three goals, alongside four other players. But knowing Japan’s never-say-die attitude, things were expected to have a change in a later stage of the game and they delivered another sensational comeback against a former world champion by scoring twice in three minutes. Although losing out to the Samurai Blue, Spain’s superior goal differential (6) was enough to beat Germany’s (1) to book a ticket to the knockout round of the World Cup.
The second Japan goal was a close call as the referee initially ruled the goal went out of play before it was crossed to the eventual goal scorer, Ao Tanaka, but video assistant referee (VAR) showed that the ball was still in play by a few millimetres. Had the ball gone out of play and the goal was disallowed, the match would have ended in a draw, a scenario that would send the Germans to the last 16 stage instead, with Spain finishing Group E as the winner.
Japan will face Group F’s runner-up Croatia while Spain sets to take on another dark horse of the tournament, Morocco in the Round of 16.
Do you know that Messi’s Argentina survive great scares before progressing into the next round of the World Cup? Find out more: https://www.wclivestream.net/messis-argentina-survived-group-stage-scares-despite-penalty-miss-through-to-the-round-of-16-of-the-2022-fifa-world-cup-in-qatar-with-poland/
(Photo Credits: Reuters)