Germany defeated Costa Rica 4-2 on Thursday night, but they were still eliminated from the FIFA World Cup in the group stage.
The victory was insufficient for Hansi Flick’s team as Japan defeated Spain 2-1 to advance to the knockout stages.
As anticipated, Germany dominated the first two minutes of the match against Costa Rica, forcing Keylor Navas into a deft save.
Six minutes later, Thomas Muller would score the game’s first legitimate opportunity. Joshua Kimmich’s brilliant looping cross found the Bayern forward unmarked, but he was unable to direct his ensuing header toward goal when he should have.
Leroy Sane’s header did eventually find the back of the net one minute later. A David Raum cross from the left side was flicked into the bottom right corner of the goal by the former Man City player. A fantastic header that fully deserved for Germany.
When Leon Goretzka dashed into the box to latch onto an Ilkay Gundogan cross, Germany produced yet another headed opportunity. But this time, Navas was there to deflect the goal-bound attempt away from harm.
Costa Rica continued to defend every open play situation as if it were a corner kick moving forward, always keeping at least three defenders in their own six-yard box. The game continued in a similar manner.
The Germans would generate a few more opportunities to increase their lead before the half ended. A few minutes later, Cruyff, who had just turned around a defender from Costa Rica, did the same thing after a mazy run by Musiala that ended with the youngster shooting just wide of the post.
Amazingly, after some terrible defending from Antonio Rudiger, it was almost 1-1 in the 42nd minute. Keysher Fuller caught the ball after Rudiger sliced a clearance back toward his own goal, but Manuel Neuer expertly stopped the Costa Rica wide player’s subsequent shot on goal.
Germany attempted to throw everything at Costa Rica by substituting Niclas Fullkrug as Japan rallied to lead Spain 2-1 in the other match.
However, they ultimately gave up their lead rather than extending it. Yeltsin Tejeda would score the goal after Neuer mishandled a Kendall Waston header and failed to adequately stop it.
Moments later, Germany went up the other end and, thanks to Musiala and Rudiger, came so close to tying the score. A minute after Rudiger’s attempt from inside the six-yard box missed the post with his shot, Musiala burst into the left side of the penalty area and slammed the ball off the inside of the post.
In the 65th minute, Germany succeeded once more. They did indeed strike the post a third time. This time, Musiala curled the ball from just outside the box and off the post.
Hansi Flick’s team was denied a third goal in the 75th minute by an incredible Keylor Navas save. The former Real Madrid goalkeeper made a brilliant move across his line to block Fullkrug’s face-on shot from close range.
In the 85th minute, Havertz would make it 3-2 by latching onto a superb cross from Gnabry and side-footing the ball into the goal.
After Sane found him with a skillful chested pass into his path, the score quickly increased to 4-2. However, it wasn’t enough as Japan held on to defeat Spain and eliminated Flick’s team.
Costa Rica 2-4 Germany: Player ratings as Hansi Flick’s side exit the World Cup
Costa Rica player ratings (4-3-3)
GK: Keylor Navas – 7/10
CB: Oscar Duarte – 6/10
CB: Kendall Waston – 7/10
CB: Juan Pablo Vargas – 7/10
RM: Keysher Fuller – 5/10
CM: Celso Borges – 6/10
CM: Yeltsin Tejeda – 7/10
LM: Bryan Oviedo – 6/10
RW: Brandon Aguilera – N/A
ST: Johan Venegas – 5/10
LW: Joel Campbell – 6/10
Substitutes
SUB – Youstin Salas – 6/10
SUB – Jewison Bennette – 5/10
SUB – Ronald Matarrita – 5/10
SUB – Roan Wilson – N/A.
SUB – Anthony Contreras – N/A.
Manager – Luis Fernando Suarez – 5/10
Germany player ratings (4-2-3-1)
GK: Manuel Neuer – 3/10
RB: Joshua Kimmich – 4/10
CB: Niklas Sule – 2/10
CB: Antonio Rudiger – 3/10
LB: David Raum – 6/10
CM: Leon Goretzka – 5/10
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – 4/10
RM: Serge Gnabry – 7/10
AM: Jamal Musiala – 7/10
LM: Leroy Sane – 5/10
ST: Thomas Muller – 2/10
Substitutes
SUB: Lukas Klostermann – 5/10
SUB: Niclas Fullkrug – 7/10
SUB: Mario Gotze – 5/10
SUB – Kai Havertz – 8/10
SUB – Matthias Ginter – N/A.
SUB – Hansi Flick – 5/10
Player of the match: Kai Havertz