Germany can indeed win its game against Costa Rica, but because Spain does not provide any support, the German national team was eliminated from the World Cup in Qatar after the preliminary round.
The nightmare came true, as at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, the German national team had to return home after the preliminary round at the tournament in Qatar.
In the decisive final group game, there was a 4-2 victory over Costa Rica, but since Japan won their game against Spain 2-1, the German team only managed to finish third in the group.
The signs for the round of 16 were initially very good. Serge Gnabry gave Germany a 1-0 lead after a strong opening phase (10th minute), shortly afterwards the report came that Spain had taken a 1-0 lead against Japan. Germany at this moment with four points as group runners-up in the round of 16. Hansi Flick’s team created more scoring chances up until the break, but initially didn’t want to score another goal.
Germany wins, but no Spanish support
Bad news after the break, Japan suddenly found themselves 2-1 up against Spain after a double, Germany suddenly eliminated again. And worse was to come. Yeltsin Tejeda surprisingly equalized in the 58th minute.
In the 70th minute Germany went into shock. Juan Pablo Vargas put Costa Rica ahead. But just three minutes later it was Kai Havertz who scored the equalizer to make it 2-2. In the 76th minute, substitute Niclas Füllkrug had the opening goal on his feet, but the Bremen striker failed from a few meters at the sensational parrying Navas.
In the 85th minute it was Havertz again who scored the 3-2 lead after a cross from Gnabry. However, with Japan still leading against Spain, Germany was still eliminated. The final 4:2 goal for Germany by Füllkrug was not enough for the round of 16. Japan, surprising group winners, and Spain, runners-up, advanced to the knockout stages, with Germany and Costa Rica heading home.
Thomas Müller hints at retirement from the national team
After the disappointing elimination of the preliminary round, Thomas Müller provided one last oh-ha moment when he hinted at his retirement from the national team on the ARD microphone:
“It’s an absolute disaster. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen next. If this is supposed to be my last game for Germany, I would like to say a few words to the German football fans who were with me. It was a pleasure. Dear people “Thank you very much. We had incredible moments. I left my heart on the pitch, gave everything. Sometimes it was tears of joy, sometimes pain that I brought with my actions. I did it with love. You can be sure of that But I have to take a look first,” said Müller.
For the first time, a referee whistles a men’s World Cup game
Even before kick-off, the game against Costa Rica made history. Manuel Neuer has scored the 19th time as a goalkeeper at a World Cup and is now the sole leader in this position. He overtook his compatriot Sepp Maier and the Brazilian keeper Claudio Taffarel, who both had 18 goals at a World Cup.
Und mit Stephanie Frappart wurde erstmals ein Spiel bei der Weltmeisterschaft der Männer von einer Frau geleitet. Die Französin pfeift bereits seit 2011 für die Fifa, wurde 2019 als Weltschiedsrichterin ausgezeichnet und leitete im selben Jahr erstmals ein Champions-League-Spiel der Männer. Die 38-Jährige gilt als aktuell beste Schiedsrichterin der Welt.
Auch an den Seitenlinie wurden erstmals bei einer Männer-WM Frauen eingesetzt. Die Brasilianerin Neuza Back und die Mexikanerin Karen Diaz Medina standen als Schiedsrichter-Assistentinnen Frappart im Spiel der Deutschen gegen Costa Rica zur Seite.