Abused during the first part of the match, the Germans managed to snatch a draw at La Roja (1-1), Sunday, November 27, during the second day of group E. And keep a hope of qualification.
The Mannschaft owes a fine one to Costa Rica. It’s easy to imagine the Germans waking up scared, if indeed they fell asleep in the calm of Al-Shamal, a city far from everything in northern Qatar where Hansi Flick’s players have chose to crib. This Sunday morning, the equation seemed simple: a victory against Spain was mandatory to avoid a premature return home. But this Sunday evening, despite a simple draw at the end of the match against La Roja, the Germans will be able to go to bed with a little more peace of mind. Thanks to the surprise victory of the Costa Ricans against the dominant Japanese at the start of the afternoon (1-0), Germany still has a thin cartridge.
We could sum up the first half to a giant toro. From the first minutes, La Roja put his foot on the ball and did not let go. Faced with a high and relatively well-placed opposing block, the Spaniards turned the leather, doubling passes until they abused it, as if clearing was forbidden to them. All in fluidity and elegance, the men of Luis Enrique were the first to be dangerous. By a dragging ball in the area after five minutes of play, finally recovered by the Mannschaft benefiting from a failed control from Asensio. Then on a clear and powerful strike from Olmo two minutes later, miraculously repelled with the fingertips by Neuer on his bar.
Despite the third youngest average age in the tournament (behind the United States and Ghana), La Roja have long played as an experienced team, confident and aware of their technical superiority, sometimes flirting with insolence. Even if it means burning your wings. Like in the 24th minute when, after a failed double raise, Serge Gnabry almost shook the net with a curled shot, his shot just missing the target. Shortly before the break, with a powerful blow from his helmet cutting off an eccentric free kick, the German central defender Rüdiger believed for a moment to succeed. Before the VAR got involved and canceled the goal for a one-shoulder offside. 324 assists to 143 for Spain at half-time, a Roja who stinks of football but the funny feeling of having seen Germany more dangerous.
The Ticos to cross to dream of eighths
We believed in a similar second act. Ball Spain. La Roja is playing with fire and Germany are frolicking in a role they like. A bad Spanish raise, the leather that ends up in Kimmich’s feet which lights up a reactive Unai Simon (56th). But a few minutes later, a good Spanish shift on the left side, a powerful low center from Jordi Alba, the tip of the foot from Alvaro Morata who had just returned and the ball ended up in the back of the net. 1-0 for Spain. Change of role: the Mannschaft is obliged to play the game.
What follows is nothing but attacks and counter-attacks in a euphoric and unbridled end to the encounter. The tension goes up a notch, the rather sluggish public of the Al Bayt Stadium is finally heard. On both sides, each action seems to be able to end in a goal. We saw the Spaniards redouble the passes with one touch and send the ball across the field like a ball in a pinball machine before Asensio concluded the action by sending the leather to 36th row in stand C (65th). Then Musiala, on the other side, to see his dreams of equalizing fail on another huge parade from Unai Simon yet at close range.
The deliverance will come at the 83rd. An attack from the right, three Spanish defenders who seem attracted to each other, the ball which ends up at the feet of Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug who sends a mine full skylight. This time, Simon can’t help it. One everywhere. Until the end, Germany will have pushed, missing, on a final attack in the 95th, to win the match on the wire. But the score will remain there. The Mannschaft will play its qualification against Costa Rica on Thursday evening. While praying that, at the same time, Spain corrects Japan. Otherwise, it will be, for the second consecutive World Cup, a hasty return home.