Despite a 4-2 victory against Costa Rica in their last Group E encounter on Thursday, four-time champions Germany were eliminated at the first hurdle for the second straight tournament.
Germany arrived in Qatar hoping to repair their damaged reputation following their group stage exit in 2018. Instead, they ended third in the rankings, tied with Spain on four points but behind on goal difference, and will return home early once more.
Following their 2-1 win over Spain, Japan won Group E with six points and will face Croatia in the last 16, while Spain will face Morocco. Costa Rica came in last place with three points.
On a night of unremitting drama in the desert outside Doha, the Germans took the lead in the 10th minute via Serge Gnabry, but the Central Americans responded twice through Yeltsin Tejeda and a Manuel Neuer own goal before a Kai Havertz brace put them back in front.
Niclas Fuellkrug, another substitute, added a fourth in stoppage time, but it wasn’t enough to keep them in the World Cup.
Germany failed to win any of their first two group matches for the first time in their illustrious World Cup history, and despite a win on their final attempt, they will leave Qatar with their heads down.
“There are so many reasons but I am not looking for excuses,” said Germany coach Hansi Flick. “In the first half I was disappointed and very angry at my team and how we allowed the opponent to come back.
“We wanted to score three or four goals in the first half but then we made mistakes. If we had converted those chances, 16 of them.
“But the tournament was not decided today for us. We did not have any efficiency at this tournament and that is why we were eliminated.”
Germany entered the game on the verge of elimination after losing their first group encounter to Japan and then salvaging a 1-1 draw against Spain.
Germany, desperate for a win to prevent a recurrence of the 2018 disaster, went in quest of an early goal to calm their nerves.
