GERMANY have come crashing out of the World Cup and will be joined on the plane home by Belgium.The European giants were tipped by many to make it to the latter stages of the tournament, but both sides are heading home.
Shock results on the final day sealed their fate, with Japan’s victory over Spain knocking Germany out.
Belgium’s failure to beat Croatia combined with Morocco’s victory over Canada saw the African’s top Group F while Japan’s win saw them finish above Spain in Group E.
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Muller retiring from international football?
Thomas Muller hinted that he might have played his last game for Germany.
The legend has won over 100 caps for his country, participating at seven major tournaments, notably winning the World Cup in 2014.
But after the Germans crashed out in the group stages in Qatar, he gave an inkling that tonight might have been his final international.
He said: “If this was my last game, then it’s been a huge pleasure.
“We experienced incredible moments together and in every game I’ve tried to leave my heart on the pitch. I’ve done it with love.”
Japan show their class again
Japan fans showed their class once again by helping clean the litter from the Khalifa International Stadium after their dramatic victory over Spain.
The East Asia country have become renowned for the act of kindness in this tournament and they were at it once again tonight.
This comes despite being jubilant after they pulled off another shock to book their ticket to the knockout stages.
They think it’s ball over
This photo shows exactly how close the ball was to going out which lead to Japan’s second goal.
Tanaka turned the scoreline and group on its head to put his side ahead in remarkable fashion.
The cross that led to his goal looked to have crossed the byline, which would have led to it being disallowed and a goalkick being awarded.
The on-field officials initially ruled it had gone out of play before Tanaka scored, but VAR corrected the decision.
But the technology proved that the ball had been kept in play by just a few millimetres before Mitoma pulled it back from his team-mate to tap in.
Agony for Germany
Germany’s early exit continued their poor tournament form in recent years.
They have now been knocked out in the group stages at the last two World Cups, sandwiched between a last-16 exit at last summer’s Euros at the hands of England.
Unsurprisingly, the German players were left devastated despite their comeback win over Costa Rica.
And that could be the last we’ve seen of 36-year-old Manuel Neuer at a major tournament.
Full-time
Costa Rica 2 Germany 4
Japan 2 Spain 1
An incredibly dramatic night of World Cup football comes to an end and it’s Japan who progress as group winners with Spain in second.
Germany overcame a spirited Costa Rica side, but it wasn’t enough after Japan completed a second half turnaround to shock Spain.
Fortunately, the 2010 winners progress on goal difference, mainly thanks to their 7-0 win over Costa Rica in their opener.
Japan’s reward for winning the group is a clash with Croatia, while Spain will face Morocco.
Costa Rica 2 Germany 4
The night keeps on giving.
Havertz grabs his second of the game as he latches onto Gnabry’s cross to tap home at the back post.
Six minutes later Fullkrug makes it 4-2 and Germany have done their bit.
But they still need a favour from Spain or they’re heading out on goal difference.
Costa Rica 2 Germany 2
This is chaos.
Costa Rica go in front and spark wild scenes after Vargas takes advantage of more poor German defending.
But their joy is short-lived as Germany equalises within three minutes through Havertz and Hansi Flick’s side are suddenly back in business.
Costa Rica 1 Germany 1
Wow, it’s all going on as Costa Rica bring themselves right back into the equation.
Tejeda capitalises on a terrible mistake from Neuer to slam home from close range.
It means that Costa Rica join Spain on four points and will climb up to second if they can score again.
Japan 2 Spain 1
Incredible scenes as Japan turn the game around within eight minutes of the restart as Tanaka coverts from close range.
Initially, it looked like the goal was going to be ruled out after the ball appeared to have gone out on the far side, but following a lengthy wait, the goal is given.
Japan have overtaken Spain and moved to the top of the group.
Japan 1 Spain 1
Well that changes everything.
Japan make a lightning start to the half and equalise within three minutes.
Doan, who only came on at the break, cuts in from the right and thumps a stunning effort past Unai Simon.
It’s a great strike, but the Spanish goalkeeper will feel he should have done better.
Japan are going through as it stands.
Half-time
Japan 0 Germany 1
Costa Rica 0 Spain 1
It’s half-time and Germany and Spain both lead 1-0 thanks to goals from Gnabry and Morata.
Germany have dominated and will feel they should be more than one goal ahead, but little has happened in the Spain vs Japan game since the opener, although the 2010 winners are in complete control.
If the scores stay the same, these two will qualify for the last-16.
Cashing in
Matty Cash has revealed that Aston Villa team-mate Emiliano Martinez gifted him Lionel Messi’s shirt after Poland lost to Argentina.
The right-back played the full 90 minutes in their 2-0 defeat to Messi’s side, but was still celebrating despite the result.
And Cash’s night was about to get even better.
He said: “I tell you the best thing about it was, right, at the end of the game Emiliano Martínez comes up to me and he’s like ‘Cashy I’ve got you a present’,
“And I was like, ‘what could this be?’. He said follow me into the tunnel, so I’ve gone into the tunnel with him and he’s gone in the changing room, he said ‘wait there’.
“Then he’s walked out with Messi’s shirt for me. It was amazing, it doesn’t get better than that
“Nah, seeing him in real life up close, I think he walked past me at half-time and I was like ‘woah, that’s Messi’.”
Japan 0 Spain 1
It’s more good news for Germany as Spain have also gone ahead through Alvaro Morata, who continues his excellent World Cup.
Cesar Azpilicueta sends over a perfect cross and his former Chelsea team-mate can’t miss, heading home his third goal of the tournament.
As it stands, Spain will win the group with Germany going through as runners up.
Costa Rica 0 Germany 1
The Germans have started well and have now been rewarded.
Moments after Thomas Muller somehow failed to divert his header on target, the favourites break the deadlock.
David Raum sends over a lovely cross for Serge Gnabry to plant into the far corner.
Germany look like they mean business.
Underway
We’re underway in tonight’s games with Germany facing Costa Rica and Japan up against Spain.
Remarkably, all four teams can still qualify, even Costa Rica despite losing their opening game 7-0.
Spain have to avoid defeat to guarantee their place in the knockout stages, but it’s not as simple for the Germans who MUST win to stand any chance.
Costa Rica and Japan will have plenty to say about that though.
Senegal playing for all of Africa says Diedhiou
Famara Diedhiou says he and his Senegal team-mates will not just be playing against England for their nation – but the whole of Africa.
The ex-Bristol City striker, 29, will be hoping to start in Sunday’s last-16 clash after netting against Qatar in the group stage.
Diedhiou, now of Turkish side Alanyaspor, said: “We don’t play only for Senegal, we play for the continent.
“They will try to push us so as a player we have to try and push and give our best.
“It’s going to be a good game, a lot of our players play in England so we have to do everything.”
Touch of class
Luka Modric turned in another quality performance to help Croatia book their place in the last-16 of the World Cup following a goalless draw with Belgium.
The Real Madrid then showed his class off the pitch after the game.
That’s because the midfielder made a volunteer’s day in the media centre by giving them his shirt.
Team news
Teams news is in ahead of tonight’s games.
Here’s how Spain and Japan line up.
Spain: Unai Simon, Azpilicueta, Rodri, Pau Torres, Balde, Busquets, Pedri, Gavi, Nico Williams, Olmo; Morata.
Japan: Gonda, Taniguchi, Yoshida, Itakura, Nagatomo, Morita, Ito, Tanaka, Kamada, Kubo, Maeda.
And here’s how Germany and Costa Rica look.
Costa Rica: Navas, Fuller, Duarte, Waston, Vargas, Oviedo, Tejeda, Aguilera, Borges, Venegas, Campbell.
Germany: Neuer, Kimmich, Rudiger, Sule, Raum, Goretzka, Gundogan, Sane, Musiala, Gnabry, Muller.
Martinez leaves Belgium post
Roberto Martinez has confirmed that he’s no longer Belgium manager following their World Cup exit.
The ex-Everton and Wigan boss has been in charge of the Red Devils since 2016, leading them at four tournaments, but revealed the draw with Croatia was his last match.
Despite having a Golden Generation, Martinez was unable to lead Belgium to a final, culminating in their group stage exit in Qatar.
Read more about Martinez’s departure HERE.
All smiles at training
James Maddison and Bukayo Saka were looked in a cheerful mood at training as England started preparing for their last-16 clash with Senegal on Sunday.
The Leicester City star has endured a frustrating World Cup so far, sitting out the opening two games through injury.
He did return to the bench against Wales on Tuesday and will be hoping to make his tournament debut against the African champions this weekend.
Kudos to Morocco
All the talk is about Belgium’s exit, but how impressive have Morocco been?
They’ve conceded just once in the tournament and topped a group that had Belgium and Croatia in it.
In doing so, they’re the first African team to win their group this century, the last being Nigeria in 1998.
Their reward could be a crunch last-16 clash with Germany, although Costa Rica and Japan might have something to say about that.
Angry Lukaku
Romelu Lukaku looked fuming as his Belgium side were knocked out of the World Cup following a goalless draw with Croatia.
Lukaku was introduced at half-time but missed FOUR golden chances to get the goal needed to overtake Croatia and reach the knockouts.
The Inter Milan striker was consoled by Thierry Henry at full-time, but appeared to punch the dugout as he left the pitch.
Belgians in tears
From Martin Lipton in Doha:
Tears on the pitch.
But no excuses.
Belgium’s big chance was in 2016 and 2018.
They have got older and slower and even De Bruyne cannot carry a team on his own.
Good news for Manchester City fans, though. He gets more than three weeks off until Boxing Day.
As for Martinez, his agent will be getting busy. Although I’m not sure how quickly a few clubs would pick up the phone.
Belgium are OUT
It’s all over and Belgium are out of the World Cup in what has been a tournament to forget.
They scored just once and that came in the 44th minute of their opener against Canada.
Romelu Lukaku missed four golden chances including one right on 90 minutes which looked harder to miss.
Croatia finish second and Morocco, who’ve been the surprise package of the tournament, emerge as group winners.
They’ll find out their last-16 opponents later tonight, with Costa Rica, Japan and Germany all in with a chance of qualifying.
Walker can stop Mbappe says Rio Ferdinand
England have the only player “on the planet” that can stop France superstar Kylian Mbappe in the 2022 World Cup, claims Rio Ferdinand.
The Three Lions and Les Bleus both punched their ticket to the Last 16 where they will face Senegal and Poland respectively.
If Gareth Southgate and Didier Deschamps’ teams make it out of the Round of 16 they will face each other in a crunch quarter-final clash.
Ferdinand said: “For me, Kyle Walker is the only defender on the planet right now that will stand there and go to Mbappe: ‘Right, 1-v-1, let’s have a race’.”
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