World Cup highlights Germany eliminated as Spain, Japan advance from chaotic Group E

After a tense 90-plus minutes at Khalifa International Stadium in Rayyan, Qatar – and with a big helping hand from the result of the other Group E match happening just across town – Japan and Spain both lived to see another day at this World Cup.

A pair of goals from two halftime substitutions lifted the Samurai Blue to a 2-1 win over Spain in Thursday’s group-stage finale. The victory put Japan atop Group E with six points; because of Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica, Spain held the advantage in goal differential and secured a place in the knockout round.

Kai Havertz struck again for Germany in the 86th minute, burying his left-footed shot into the bottom right corner following a cross from Serge Gnabry. Shortly after the Havertz goal, Niclas Fullkrug scored again for Germany, which leads 4-2 in the final minutes. Still, Germany needs Spain to equalize against Japan to avoid a second straight group stage exit.

GOAL: After a VAR review for offside, Germany takes a 4-2 lead over Costa Rica in the 89th minute on a goal by Niclas Füllkrug. There will be at least 10 minutes of stoppage time in this one. Germany needs Spain to score an equalizer against Japan.

There will be seven minutes of stoppage time in the Spain-Japan match, and if things hold in that match and in Germany-Costa Rica, Japan will win the group and Spain will finish second. But if Spain scores again to tie things up, Spain will win the group and Germany will finish second.

GOAL: Germany retakes the lead, 3-2 over Costa Rica, in the 85th minute on Kai Havertz’s second goal of the match. The Germans still need help from Spain, which continues to trail Japan in Group E’s other finale, to advance to the knockout stage.

Spain is holding basically all of the possession in the game’s later stages, but La Roja haven’t generated much in the way of actual chances, instead passing it around the top of the box. Spain would be through to the knockout round under the current situation, but a tying goal would make things much safer.

That was a chaotic five-minute span, but if these two Group E scores hold, Spain and Japan would both advance.

Both sides made additional changes in the 69th minute. For Spain, Jordi Alba is in for Alejandro Balde at left back and Ansu Fati takes over for Gavi in the midfield. Takehiro Tomiyasu replaces Daichi Kamada on Japan’s back line.

Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas made his fourth save – on a close-range shot from Germany’s Niclas Füllkrug – to keep this game tied at 2-2 in the 76th minute. Two minutes ealier, Costa Rica made a pair of substitutions, with Ronald Matarrita and Jewison Bennette replacing Johan Venegas and Keysher Fuller.

Germany was pressing for another goal and it came, just not as it had hoped.

Following a 70th-minute set piece, the ball trickled past German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into the net, compliments of Costa Rica’s Juan Pablo Vargas. The goal stood after a review.

Three minutes later, Germany got its goal when Niclas Füllkrug assisted Kai Havertz’s shot from the center of the box.

At the moment, neither side will advance with Japan leading Spain in the other Group E match.

GOAL: Germany and Costa Rica are level again, 2-2, after Germany’s Kai Havertz collected a loose ball in front of the net and flicked it past Keylor Navas in the 73rd minute. The equalizer puts Spain back in position to advance along with Japan.

GOAL: Costa Rica takes a 2-1 lead over Germany in the 70th minute on a goal by Juan Pablo Vargas off a set piece. Costa Rica and Japan, which leads Spain, 2-1, would advance if these results hold. Spain and Germany would head home.

Germany’s Jamal Musiala is giving Costa Rica fits. The Bayern Munich winger came within inches of giving Germany the lead again in the 61st minute, but his left-footed shot deflected off the post. Kai Havertz and Mario Götze come on for David Raum and Thomas Müller in the 66th minute, and then Musiala hit the post again in the 67th.