Japan completed on the prime of Group E and can subsequent face Croatia. Spain will tackle Group F winner Morocco.
Spain and Germany — which beat Costa Rica 4-2 in a simultaneous match — each had 4 factors within the group. However Spain had a superior purpose distinction.
The group standings bounced forwards and backwards throughout each matches. Costa Rica was beating Germany at one level. If that end result had stood, Costa Rica would have eradicated Spain.
Japan scored twice early within the second half to return from behind and defeat one other European powerhouse and make it to the knockout stage for the second straight World Cup. It’s the primary time Japan has superior previous the group stage in back-to-back tournaments.
How group E standings modified over the course of 90 minutes.#FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/nuObKRMCBi
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Right here’s the timeline of occasions:
10 minutes: Germany know solely victory will do and Serge Gnaby offers Hansi Flick’s group the perfect begin.
The Germans leapfrog Costa Rica and be part of Japan on 4 factors.
11 minutes: A simple night time for the Europeans? Alvaro Morata scores and Spain are snug on the prime of Group E, with Germany now second.
Half-time: Nothing to see right here. Spain and Germany each had been main on the break.
48 minutes: Japan equalise – Ritsu Doan, who equipped the help towards Germany eight days in the past, scored an equaliser via the arms of goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Japan return to second place, forward of Germany on the groups’ head-to-head report, with the edges locked on 4 factors, and an identical purpose distinction and targets scored.
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51 minutes: Japan lead. Lightning does strike twice. Not content material with overturning a deficit towards four-time champions Germany after half-time, Hajime Moriyasu’s group rating their second purpose in three minutes, Ao Tanaka, prodding in from close-range, to show round their contest with the 2010 winners.
Japan surge to the highest of Group E, with Spain and Germany separated solely by purpose distinction on 4 factors.
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58 minutes: Costa Rica draw stage. The group that shipped seven targets to Spain confirmed its mettle when recovering to beat Japan, now they’re at it once more following Yeltsin Tejeda’s strike.
What an evening! #FIFAWorldCup | #Qatar2022
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It’s Costa Rica pinned behind Spain on purpose distinction, with Germany a distant fourth on two factors.
70 minutes: Costa Rica lead! Simply whenever you thought issues couldn’t additional deteriorate for Germany, keeper Manuel Neuer scores an personal purpose.
The unthinkable is on. Japan nonetheless prepared the ground in Group E and Costa Rica climb to second.
The mighty pair of Spain and Germany are going out.
73 minutes: Germany are all-square. Flick’s group equalise courtesy of Kai Havertz.
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It’s nonetheless a good distance again for Germany. They’ve two factors, Japan are away within the distance on six factors. Costa Rica and Spain, in the meantime, are collectively once more on 4 factors, with Spain again within the World Cup nearly as rapidly as they tumbled out of the competitors.
85 minutes: Germany retake the lead: Havertz scores his second to swing the scoreline again in his group’s favour.
The Germans return to the four-point mark, stage with Spain. Costa Rica are the basement dwellers on three factors. There’s no budging six-point Japan from the summit.
89 minutes: Germany rating a fourth. The factors are within the bag after late-bloomer Niclas Fullkrug scores his second purpose of the event.
All German eyes are on Khalifa Worldwide Stadium, desperately hoping for a Spanish equaliser, which might allow the 2014 winners to progress on purpose distinction on the expense of Japan.
90+8mins: Japan win. The total-time whistle sounds and Japan have accomplished one in all trendy worldwide soccer’s most outstanding achievements, ending forward of each Germany and Spain after beating each European nations in precisely one week.
90+11mins: Full-time and Germany win 4-2, the an identical scoreline when the groups met within the opening recreation of the German-hosted 2006 World Cup.
On this event, it isn’t sufficient for Flick’s disconsolate males. Germany summoned a commendable response after shedding to Japan, however a draw with Spain and this goal-laden victory are sufficient solely to complete third within the standings.