Chelsea In Qatar – Costa Rica v Germany
Coata Rica 2 – 4 Germany
(Group E, Al Bayt Stadium, 01/12/2022)
A first tonight for the officials with an all women’s team officiating in a men’s World Cup tournament for the first time.
Germany go into this final group game knowing that only a win will give them a chance of qualifying for the knock out stages, and even then they will need Spain to win aganst Japan to make this happen, A draw in either two games will see Germany on the bus home.
Costa Rica also need a win to see them through or a draw will be enough if Japan lose to Spain.
Let’s see what approach they take tonight.
2 mins and the first German attack sees the keeper put the shot around the post for the corner which is cleared by the Costa Rica defence.
4 mins and Gnabry has a chance but the lineslady flags for offside. It’s all Germany as you would expect and they are looking very dangerous in these opening minutes, you feel it’s coming!
8 mins and the experienced Muller is on his own in the penalty area and heads wide, how did he miss that?
9 mins GOAL! and it’s Gnabry again for the Germans as he heads in from close range and no more than they deserve, expect the floodgates to open now.
In the other game in this group, Spain have now scored, Morata once again set up by Chelsea’s captain Azpilicueta, Morata has now scored in all three opening games. As it stands it’s Spain and Germany first and second, can’t see that changing?
16 mins, a rare Costa Rica attack which only achieves an injury to the forward, and it’s bought back for another offside.
Costa Rica have had a total on ONE attempt on goal during this entire tournament, I think that tells which way this game is going to end up.
30 mins and it’s yet another German corner, Costa Rica clear and try to counter attack but yes, you guessed it, Neuer takes it’s comfortably and back come the Germans.
Germany’s dominance here is so great that they are now at walking pace and treating this like a training session, and who can blame them? you would think Coata Rica would want to at least have a go, I guess they want to keep the score as low as possible.
35 mins and Musiala the young Germany striker dribbles through and just puts his shot just wide, he does look a great prospect. Come on Todd get your cheque book out!
40 mins and it’s the dreaded ‘Mexican Wave’ at least it gives the Costa Rica supporters something to do!
42 mins and from nothing Neuer makes a magnificent save from a very rare Costa Rica attack with Fuller in on goal. how this is only one nil is a mystery with all the chances Germany have had. however, the Costa Rica side have woken up and they have had two or three attacks, albeit they all came to nothing.
45 mins and we have just the one minute of additional time, don’t these lady officials know the new rules? and the halftime whistle goes.
Second half begins and normal service resumes with Germany having most of the play.
And in the other game Japan have equalised, mistake by the keeper and it’s all to play for again. If these scores stay the same then the Germans are out. Wow Japan have scored again, this really opens up the group.
I think the news has reached the German camp, much quicker in the Costa Rica half.
58 Mins GOAL! can you believe it, Costa Rica have scored to equalise. Tajeda gets in first before the German defence after Neuer palms it away.
61 mins and the Germans are really having a go, Rudiger smashes a shot against the outside of the post.
Germany have to score, this is going to leave some gaps for the counter attack, surely Costa Rica can’t nick this and go through themselves can they?
64 mins and another great ball in from the left by the Germans but there’s no one in the box to take advantage.
66 mins and Musiala hits the post for the second time, is this going to be case of ‘if only’?
68 mins GOAL! and it’s a free kick for Costa Rica that comes into the box, scrappy goal with bodies all over the place and Vargas scrambles it over the line. Now it’s Japan and cost Rica going through! what an amazing turn around in both these games tonight.
72 mins GOAL! Chelsea’s Kai Havertz pulls it down and puts it past the keeper, I can’t keep up with this, that puts Spain back above Costa Rica. Wow!
75 mins and it’s end to end stuff now, both sides need to score. Germany on the attack, what a save from the Costa Rica keeper Navas.
78 mins and a corner for the Germans, goes all the way across for a Costa Rica throw in.
80 mins and you get the feeling that this isn’t over yet, ten minutes plus additional time to play, which way will this game go?
84 mins GOAL! and it’s Havertz again who sneaks in behind the Costa Rica defence, the Germans now need Spain to score. The Germans are full on attack now to get this fourth goal. Whatever happens here the Germans are out unless Spain can do them a favour.
88 mins GOAL! and Fullkrug scores but given offside, score stays at 3-2 to the Germans. No VAR but the officials are discussing it and have decided it is to count, VAR comms broken down. 4-2 to Germany.
90 mins on the clock and we have ten minutes additional time, there are seven minutes added in the Spain v Japan game, Japan still 2-1 up, still could go any way.
96 mins and another great break from Germany, the Costa Rica defender clears well.
And it’s all over in the other game, Germany are out and Japan top the group with Spain finishing as runners up. This is the first real big shock of the tournament.
And it’s all finished here with Germany winning 4-2, but not enough to keep them in. Fantastic game for the neutrals with action all the way.
Posted by the CSG’s World Cup Willie
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