🏆 Germany knocked out despite win; Japan shock puts them & Spain through | OneFootball

It’s crunch time in Group E tonight with all the teams involved having a chance of making it to the last-16 of the World Cup.

Follow all the action live here.

Germany knocked out despite comeback over Costa Rica

Scorers: Gnabry 10′, Havertz 73′,85′, Füllkrug 89′; Tejeda 58′, Vargas 70′

Germany came back from 2-1 down to Costa Rica to win 4-2 but were still eliminated from the World Cup as Japan beat Spain.

Germany knew they needed to win the game against Costa Rica and they got off to a perfect start when Serge Gnabry headed home from a superb cross from David Raum.

Leon Goretska then got another header on target, but this time Keylor Navas came up with a reflex save to deny him.

Just after Gnabry had put a shot wide of the post, Costa Rica almost made Germany pay for a number of missed chances, but Manuel Neuer made an excellent stop to deny Keysher Fuller in a one-on-one situation.

Into the second half, and as Japan took a shock lead over Spain, Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda levelled the scores with his first goal for his country to make the task even harder for Germany.

Hansi Flick’s side fought back as as Antonio Rüdiger hit the post and Jamal Musiala then hit the woodwork twice, going agonisingly close on three separate occasions.

But instead of going ahead themselves, Costa Rica incredibly took the lead through Juan Pablo Vargas.

Just when the evening couldn’t get much crazier, Germany equalised when Kai Havertz found himself unmarked in the box, who then kicked the ball into the ground to bounce it over the Navas.

Navas then pulled an unbelievable save from close range out of the bag on Leroy Sané to keep Costa Rica in the game.

This topsy-turvy game had even more to offer when Havertz had his brace when he converted from a Gnabry cross, and substitute Niclas Füllkrug made it 4-2 right at the death.

Japan pull off stunning win over Spain as both sides advance

Scorers: Morata 11′; Doan 48′, Tanaka 51′

Japan turned around complete first half dominance from Spain to pull off a 2-1 win in breathtaking style.

Spain went with Álvaro Morata as a traditional number nine, and that decision paid off quickly as the Atlético Madrid man got on the end of an accurate cross with his head to score the opener.

Morata continued to threaten in the box as Spain dominated possession and kept Japan to a couple of half-chances in the first half.

Just after half time, Japan’s high energy pressing punished Spain for some lackadaisical passing, as they stole the ball and substitute Ritsu Doan made a smart finish.

Japan then had the ball in the back of the net again almost immediately afterwards, and a VAR check confirmed that Ao Tanaka’s strike stood.

Dani Olmo went close just minutes from time, but Japan held on after a truly brilliant second half display as they finish top of Group E.

From earlier…

Morocco through as group winners

Scorers: Aguerd (og) 41′; Ziyech 4′, En-Nesyri 23′.

Morocco have qualified for the World Cup last-16 for the first time in 30 years after overcoming Canada.

Two goals in the first half set Walid Regragui’s men on their way with the first coming from a gift courtesy of Canada goalkeeper Milan Borjan.

Alistair Johnston’s under-hit back-pass meant Borjan had to come out of the box to claim the ball and his heavy touch left himself stranded 30 yards out and presented Hakim Ziyech with the chance to loft the ball into an empty net.

Youssef En-Nesyri doubled that advantage in the 23rd minute after running on to Achraf Hakimi’s long-ball over the top and smashing it past Borjan at his near post.

Canada got themselves back into it just before half-time when Nayef Aguerd turned Sam Adekugbe’s low cross past Bono and into his own net – the 100th goal scored at this World Cup.

John Herdman’s side pressed for an equaliser in the second half and he will be wondering how his team didn’t score in the 72nd minute.

Atiba Hutchinson’s header came back off the crossbar and bounced on to the goal-line before Johnston turned the rebound over.

But Morocco held on and progress into the knockout round as group winners.

Croatia send Belgium packing after Lukaku misses

Croatia saw out a nervy ending to seal their place in the knockout rounds and send Belgium home.

They were awarded a penalty midway through the first half after Yannick Carrasco had pulled Andrej Kramarić down in the box but VAR overturned the decision after Dejan Lovren was found to be offside in the build-up to the foul.

Belgium head coach Roberto Martinez turned to Romelu Lukaku from the bench at half-time to save their World Cup dream, and the Inter striker missed a golden chance to break the deadlock when the ball fell to him six yards out but his right-footed effort came back out off the post.

Luka Modrić and Marcelo Brozović were both denied by Thibaut Courtois as they went in search of the goal that would’ve given them some breathing space but in the end they didn’t need it and the 2018 runners-up continue their record of making it out of the group stage at every tournament they’ve featured in.

Lukaku then failed to get his feet sorted to get on the end of a cross into the box from Thorgan Hazard, which saw the ball fall into the arms of Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livaković from underneath the crossbar.

It’s the first time Belgium have failed to make it out of the group since 1998.