Germany’s World Cup hopes are hanging by a thread ahead of their final Group E game against Costa Rica.
Die Mannschaft – champions in 2014 – obediently gave up their title in Russia and have had a miserable tournament so far in Qatar.
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Germany will need results to follow their own path and qualify for the knockout stages
Germany stared after their shock 2-1 loss to Japan but fought back to secure a 1-1 draw against Spain.
Hansi Flick’s side are still bottom of the group and need a favor from La Roja if they are to pull off a great escape and reach the knockout stages.
Costa Rica v Germany: talkSPORT coverage
This World Cup Group E clash will take place on Thursday, December 1.
The match at Al Bayt Stadium will start at 7 p.m.
The action will be live on talkSPORT, with Natalie Sawyer as presenter.
Comments will then come from Joe Shennan and former England striker Lianne Sanderson.
talkSPORT World Cup 2022 coverage
talkSPORT brings you comprehensive coverage of the 2022 World Cup.
We broadcast all 64 matches of the tournament live, with over 600 hours of coverage on our network.
You can tune into talkSPORT and talkSPORT 2 via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com.
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Germany face second consecutive World Cup group stage exit
Costa Rica v Germany: Permutations
Costa Rica will advance to the round of 16 if their result against Germany is better than Japan’s against Spain.
If Japan beat Spain, Los Ticos would progress with a win over the four-time world champions.
Germany are the only team unable to win Group E and must beat Costa Rica and hope Spain beat Japan as well.
They will also qualify if they beat the Central American team by two or more goals and Japan fail to beat Spain.
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Germany will be relieved to have a fighting chance ahead of the final game of the group stage
Costa Rica v Germany: Squads and news
Costa Rica
- Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Esteban Alvarado, Patrick Sequeira
- Defenders: Francisco Calvo, Juan Pablo Vargas, Kendall Waston, Oscar Duarte, Daniel Chacon, Keysher Fuller, Carlos Martínez, Bryan Oviedo, Ronald Matarrita
- Midfielders: Yeltsine Tejeda, Celso Borges, Youstin Salas, Roan Wilson, Gerson Torres, Douglas Lopez, Jewison Bennette, Alvaro Zamora, Anthony Hernandez, Brandon Aguilera, Bryan Ruiz
- Forwards: Joel Campbell, Anthony Contreras, Johan Venegas
Germany
- Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-André ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp
- Defenders: Armel Bella-Kotchap, Matthias Ginter, Christian Gunter, Thilo Kehrer, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule
- Midfielders: Julian Brandt, Niclas Fullkrug, Leon Goretzka, Mario Gotze, Ilkay Gundogan, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala
- Forwards: Karim Adeyemi, Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane
AFP
Costa Rica also hopes to be able to progress
Costa Rica v Germany: Match facts
- Last time out, Keysher Fuller scored on Costa Rica’s first-ever shot on target at this World Cup, after over 184 minutes of football played (including added time). Fuller could become the fourth Costa Rican player to score more than once at a single World Cup after Bryan Ruiz in 2014, Paulo Wanchope in 2006 and Ronald Gómez in 2002.
- At 19 years and 274 days against Spain, Jamal Musiala became the youngest player to register an assist for Germany in a World Cup match (since 1966), surpassing Thomas Müller’s previous record against Germany. Australia in 2010 (20 years 273 days). No German has created more goalscoring chances at the 2022 World Cup than Musiala (5 – tied with David Raum).
- Thomas Müller has failed to score in each of his last six World Cup appearances, having scored 10 goals in his first 12 games in the competition and is yet to attempt a single shot in the 2022 edition.
- Costa Rica have scored fewer goals (1), attempted fewer shots (4), registered fewer shots on target (1) and have the lowest expected total goals (0.11) of any team in Group E at the 2022 World Cup.
- Hans-Dieter Flick (D1 L1) is the second manager not to win his first two World Cup matches in charge of Germany, after Josef Herberger. No German coach has managed to win their first three World Cup matches.
- Germany had 35.9 per cent possession against Spain on matchday two, their lowest ever share in a World Cup game since 1966, beating their previous record (39 per cent), set in 1986 against the Morocco. Indeed, Germany failed to win their first two group stage matches at a single World Cup for the first time in their history.
- After beating Japan 1-0 on Matchday 2, Costa Rica could win back-to-back World Cup matches for only the second time (in 2014 against Uruguay and Italy), despite not only once recorded consecutive draws in the competition. (in 2014 against Italy and England).
- Costa Rica have won just one of their last 11 FIFA World Cup matches against European nations (D5 L5), recording a 1-0 win over Italy in the 2014 edition. Indeed, six members of Costa Rica’s squad for the 2022 World Cup participated in the victory against Italy (Celso Borges, Bryan Ruiz, Joel Campbell, Keylor Navas, Yeltsine Tejeda, Óscar Duarte).
- Germany have won six of their eight FIFA World Cup matches against CONCACAF nations (D1 L1), although their only defeat in this race was in their last such game against Mexico in 2018.
- This is the second meeting between Germany and Costa Rica, the Germans having won 4-2 in the opening game of the 2006 FIFA World Cup before.
Watch the World Cup with talkSPORT
At talkSPORT, we’re powered by fans, so come join us for the ultimate World Cup fan experience this winter – at the talkSPORT fan zone.
In a huge covered room under the arches of Waterloo in London, we will bring you live screenings of every World Cup game.
There will be Q&A with talkSPORT talent, you’ll be part of our live shows and plenty of food and drink will be on offer too.
Come and have the best World Cup fan experience in London – and enjoy a complimentary pint – with tickets for all remaining matches on sale HERE!
