World Cup: It’s a Spain in the neck for Germany
The draw a fair result, soccer the winner, and Germany still in the contest
FOLLOWING the 1-1 Group E draw between superpowers Spain and Germany on Sunday night, the Germans have been thrown a lifeline.
If Spain beat Japan on Thursday, and Germany beat Costa Rica, then Spain and Germany will proceed to the Round of 16.
But if Germany lose or draw, it’s auf wiedersehen until 2026.
The Spaniards were at their brilliant best as the game began, looking like they were wearing dancing shoes rather than football boots as they dictated the pace.
As early as the 6th minute, Manuel Neuer half parried a shot from Dani Olmo, the ball going onto the cross bar.
Shots were interchanged for a period; Gnabry twice denied for Germany and Jordi Alba and Ferran Torres wide for Spain.
Germany did have the ball in the net when Antonio Rudiger headed home the cross from Joshua Kimmich but VAR decided it was offside by millimetres.
A smashing first half was over in a flash, with two attack-minded sides giving fans their money’s worth.
Spain were let off the hook when Neuer messed up trying to pass the ball out from the back but redeemed himself with a fine save off Kimmich.
The Spanish surprised by bringing Alvaro Morata off the bench early for Torres and it turned out to be an inspired decision.
He had hardly trod on the turf for a minute when Alba broke down the left wing in what must have been a rehearsed move and Morata glided inside his marker to change the ball’s trajectory with a side-foot flick to beat Neuer (1-0).
Germany were facing elimination. Could they strike back, even without Timo Werner and Kai Havertz?
It was a big ask, but they were up for the challenge, applying pressure that brought about good chances for Niclas Fullkrug and Jamal Musiala, the latter seeing the outstretched hand of Simon deny his must-score effort with the gaping goal in front of him.
But the equaliser did come in the 82nd minute, in dramatic fashion, as Fullkrug nearly ripped the net apart with a thunderous strike.
It would remain 1-1 as the heavyweight adversaries slugged it out to the final bell.
The draw a fair result, soccer the winner, and Germany still in the contest.
