The completely surprising victory of Costa Rica against Japan opens a new door for the German team in the direction of the round of 16, which previously seemed closed. There is good news: Germany definitely still has a chance on the last day of the group match.
The first good news of the day of the World Cup came as a complete surprise for the German team: a weak Costa Rica, which showed little improvement compared to the disastrous 0:7 at the start against Spain, won 1-0 against Japan. The Japan that shone with merciless efficiency in the 2-1 win over Germany and pushed the DFB team deep into a crisis of meaning and very close to elimination. Now Joshua Kimmich and Co. are receiving completely unexpected support before their game in the evening against the overpowering Spaniards against whom the German team has won only once in this millennium.
One thing is already certain: Germany will not have a chance of making it into the knockout stages of a World Cup after just two games, not for the second time since 1938. On the contrary: A path has opened up for the DFB that even leads to a defeat in the round of 16. No matter what happens in the evening (8 p.m./ ARD, MagentaTV and in the live ticker on ntv.de) in the duel with Spain: Germany has a chance of progressing in the last group game against Costa Rica. If Japan had won, Germany would have had no chance of progressing if they lost to Spain.
In a win against Spain...
... the German team would have the progress in their own hands against Costa Rica on Wednesday. With a victory over the Japan conqueror, Germany would have six points and could look at the parallel game between Japan and Spain relatively relaxed. However, with a 7-0 win against Costa Rica, Spain have a big goal difference advantage. In the event of a tie, this decides the placement. The German team would have to tremble and reckon with a draw in the last group game - if they beat Spain by just one goal tonight. If Japan and Spain also draw, Germany and Japan would each have four points and a balanced goal difference. In this case, the number of hits scored decides.
In a draw against Spain...
... Germany would have to hope for more support in the group finals - or score a lot of goals against Costa Rica: If Japan and Spain drew at the same time, the team of national coach Hansi Flick would have been eliminated with a 1-0 win. If Japan were 0-0, they would have won the direct comparison on their side. Any victory by more than one goal would mean progression in a parallel draw - along with Spain. If Japan surprisingly win against Spain, Germany would have to win their own game very clearly: Spain would go into the group finals with a goal difference of 8 over Germany in a draw against Germany. If Spain beats Japan, every win still puts Germany in the knockout stages. A draw would not be enough.
Losing to Spain...
... there is only one scenario for the parallel game on the last day of the group stage that will help the German team: a victory for Spain! Best clear. A personal victory over Costa Rica provided. Unlike the 2021 European Championship, the direct comparison does not count for progress. This is good news for the DFB team. To score goals to make up for the worse goal difference against Japan after a defeat by Spain, it would have to do it yourself.
National coach Flick announced before the game against Spain: "I don't see any fear in the team at all. The team has so much experience, the team is of such high quality, it's just about looking forward to the game," said Flick on Saturday in an interview with the ARD sports show. "Ultimately you have to try to get your best performance against strong Spaniards and that's what the team is called for," said Flick, adding: "I think the team is looking forward to it."
