FIFA World Cup Highlights: Spain 1 - 2 Japan, Germany 4 - 2 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates

After all the hara-kiri, and all the excitement, the equations have been solved. The night was expected to be exciting, but it has been a lot more than that. A roller coaster ride of sorts throughout those 90 minutes as all four teams had qualifying chances at different points in time. Ultimately it is Spain and Japan who have qualified for the Round of 16 and will face Croatia and Morocco respectively.

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

Full Time | PEEP! PEEP! A comprehensive win for Germany, but they have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup trailing Spain on goal difference. Costa Rica was never in the race after a point in time, but you will feel for Germany as they miss out even after playing in an excellent manner!

Germany 4 – 2 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

Full Time | The land of rising Sun – Japan have a sun arising in the FIFA World Cup as they have beaten Spain and won Group F. Spain will qualify as the second team on account of goal difference, but cannot help Germany. Japan once again come back in the second half after trailing 1-0 at the half way mark. 

Japan 2 – 1 Spain

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

89’ | Germany have netted a fourth goal, but have been denied on account of off-side. Referee Stephanie Franfart is having a consultation with VAR guys, and the goal has been allowed! 

Germany 4 – 2 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

85’ | Germany are in the lead now – Havertz has scored a brace. And Gnabry the man to assist him. But these goals are only proving to be fruitful for Spain as Germany have no scope to get ahead of Spain on goal difference. Germany can qualify only if Spain score another goal and draw with Japan.

Germany 3 – 2 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

Germany would have been leading, if not for Navas!

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

79’ | Meanwhile, Japan is playing with a heavy and deep defense line. Can Spain get past that?

Spain 1 – 2 Japan

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

73’ | Germany have levelled now. A small error in defense on Costa Rica’s part and Germany have not wasted a moment to exploit the error. Kai Havertz comes in and has made an impact quite swiftly. He had a one-on-one opportunity in front of the goalkeeper and he smashed it to his right to level with Costa Rica. 

Germany 2 – 2 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

70’ | Costa Rica have another goal and the group has turned upside down now! Can you believe it! Costa Rica are ahead of Germany. A free kick from the left wing and a lovely header. 

Germany 1 – 2 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

58’ | Costa Rica have levelled the scores at the Al Bayt Stadium. Germany are going down through all means possible. Watson played an excellent header, but straight at Neuer. He stopped the ball but couldn’t keep it in his hands. Valverde ran to take the rebound and smashed the ball in the bottom corner.

Germany 1 – 1 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

How can this not be out?

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

50’ | Can you believe it? Japan have netted another goal, and they suddenly lead Spain. It is all happening here. Was that a fair goal? Tanaka the man to net the ball, but that is surely going to be controversial. Japan managed to cut it back, but the ball had almost gone out of the playing area when Mitoma brought it back in the game. After a thorough VAR evaluation, Japan was allowed the goal.

Spain 1 – 2 Japan

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

48’ | GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL!

Japan have equalised with Spain. A very good shot by Ritsu Doan, but should have been stopped by goalkeeper Simon. He got his hands on the ball but couldn’t stop it. Japan are in the World Cup.

Spain 1 – 1 Japan

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica, Team stats

Shots – Germany 12 – 1 Costa Rica

Possession – Germany 71% – 29% Costa Rica

Passes – Germany 390 – 165 Costa Rica

Yellow cards – Germany 0 – 0 Costa Rica

Corners – Germany 7 – 1 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain Team stats

Shots – Japan 2 – 5 Spain

Possession – Japan 17% – 83% Spain

Passes – Japan 116 – 566 Spain

Yellow cards – Japan 3 – 0 Spain

Corners – Japan 0 – 2 Spain

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

Half Time | Spain are already in a comfortable position on the points table, and have further comforted themselves with a 1-0 lead over Japan.

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

Half Time | Germany will go in the half-time with a lead of one goal. But they will not rest easy knowing that a Japan goal in the other match can put them on the back foot.

Germany 1 – 0 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

42’ | A golden opportunity for Costa Rica, but Germany has survived – courtesy an excellent save from the goalkeeper. Fuller was all alone in the box with one German defender and shot at the top of the net. Neuer throws his hand at the right moment and ensures to deflect the ball over the top bar.

Germany 1 – 0 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

40’ | Gnarby once again comes up with an excellent shot that was inches away from the right corner of the goal post. Germany had almost doubled the lead there.

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

33’ | Costa Rica supporters in the stadium are quite loud but the German players are unfazed and have kept possession of the ball and attacked quite brilliantly. 

Germany 1 – 0 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

29’ | Spain are playing strategically – keeping the possession with themselves while not pushing too much either. They have tried to lure Japan, but have not let them have the ball.

Spain 1 – 0 Japan

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

Just while Spain scored against Japan, Germany too have made their mark and edged ahead of Costa Rica. Serge Gnarby latches onto the cross from Raum and nets into the corner! However, he knows more work needs to be done and hence avoids celebrations.

Germany 1 – 0 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

12’ | Spain have drawn the first blood against Japan! An excellent header by Morata that sneaked through the left side of the Japan goalkeeper! That was Morata’s third goal of the tournament!

Spain 1 – 0 Japan

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

5’ | Germany have started in the most aggressive manner possible. Just five minutes of play and they already have made three entries in the box, with two excellent shoots at the net. Costa Rica goalkeeper has been excellent though.

Germany 0 – 0 Costa Rica

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Germany vs Costa Rica

Costa Rica: Navas, Duarte, Waston, Vargas, Fuller, Borges, Tejeda, Oviedo, Aguilera, Campbell, Venegas

Germany: Neuer, Kimmich, Sule, Rudiger, Raum, Gundogan,Goretzka, Gnabry, Musiala, Sane, Muller

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates, Japan vs Spain

Team line ups – 
 

Japan: Gonda, Itakura, Yoshida, Taniguchi, Junya Ito, Morita, Tanaka, Nagatomo, Kamada, Maeda, Kubo. Subs: Kawashima, Yamane, Endo, Shibasaki, Doan, Mitoma, Minamino, Tomiyasu, Asano, Sakai, Machino, Ueda, Schmidt, Soma, Hiroki Ito. 

Spain: Simon, Azpilicueta, Rodri, Pau Torres, Balde, Gavi, Busquets, Gonzalez, Williams, Morata, Olmo. Subs: Sanchez, Garcia, Llorente, Koke, Asensio, Ferran Torres, Raya, Guillamon, Pino, Jordi Alba, Carlos Soler, Carvajal, Sarabia, Laporte, Fati.

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates

This is how the points table looks like!

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates

In one of the most complicated groups at the ongoing World Cup, Germany find themselves at the bottom of the points table, quite to the surprise of fans. Meanwhile, Spain have the strongest chance of qualifying to the next round, as even a defeat to Japan can see them through based on the goal difference.

Stay tuned as it will require some patience for a couple of hours to solve this puzzle.

FIFA World Cup Group E LIVE updates

Hello and welcome to live coverage of Group E contests where all four teams have an opportunity to make it to the next round.

Spain vs Japan – Khalifa International Stadium

Germany vs Costa Rica – Al Bayt Stadium