Germany prior to the game knew they needed victory against Costa Rica to give themselves any chance of reaching the last 16
By Kehinde Okeowo
Germany were eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage for the second consecutive time despite defeating Costa Rica 4-2 at Al Bayt Stadium.
Japan’s 2-1 win which saw them finish top of Group E and Spain’s superior goal difference rendered Germany’s win inconsequential, as they finished third in the group.
Prior to the game, Hansi Flick’s side knew they needed victory to give themselves any chance of reaching the last 16, but it was to no avail.
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Germany opened the scoring as early as the 10th minute, when. Serge Gnabry scored a header after an assist from David Raum to make it 1-0 to Germany.
Yeltsin Tejeda equalised for Costa Rica in the 58th minute when he reacted first to a loose ball after Germany keeper Manuel Neuer pushed out Kendall Waston’s header.
The North Americans then took the lead for the first time in the match when Juan Pablo Vargas bundled in a second 12 minutes later after a howler from the German keeper.
At that stage, Costa Rica were going through with Japan and the result seems that it would cap one of the most astonishing nights in World Cup history,
However, Germany substitute Kai Havertz changed the game’s dynamic with two clinical finishes in the 73rd and 85th minutes respectively.
Niclas Fullkrug’s last-minute effort gave Germany a win that was no consolation as they failed to get out of the group stage.