AL KHOR, Qatar — Germany forward Niklas Fühlkrug salvaged a 1-1 draw against Spain on Sunday at the World Cup.
The Germans still need to win their final group match to have any chance of making the knockout stages. The four-time champions were knocked out at the group stage four years ago in Russia.
Germany will next face Costa Rica, who beat Japan 1-0 earlier on Sunday. Even a win might not be enough for the Germans, who are bottom of Group E and need another result to get their way.
Spain can advance to the Round of 16 with a draw against Japan.
Alvaro Marato put Spain ahead in the 62nd minute and Fühlkrug equalized for Germany in the 83rd.
The match between the pre-tournament favorites became one of the most anticipated in the group stage.
Spain tried to control the pace of the game in possession but failed to create many chances, while Germany could sporadically threaten with set pieces and set pieces.
Costa Rica 1, Japan 0
AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Keysher Fuller scored in the 81st minute to lift Costa Rica to victory over Japan, leaving both teams with three points after two games.
Fuller took advantage of a defensive error as Japan failed to clear the ball and fired a shot into the net from 18 meters out, right off the fingertips of a leaping Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gondo.
The match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium was tactical and largely lackluster, especially in the first half which did not produce a single shot on target. The second half was a bit better, with Japan pressing throughout until Costa Rica broke ahead.
Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas made some quick saves in the final minutes to secure the win.
Group F
Morocco 2, Belgium 0
DOHA, Qatar — Morocco has delivered another shock and this time Belgium’s aging “Golden Generation” has suffered.
The upset put Kevin de Bruyne and the 2018 semi-finalists in danger of a group stage exit in what is likely to be the last World Cup for many players in a team that failed to win a major title.
Moroccan substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri put his side ahead with a free-kick from a close left corner in the 73rd minute that found the body of goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois – considered by many to be the best in the world in his position.
Zakaria Abouhlal then fired into the roof of the net from Hakeem Zieh’s pass in stoppage time as Courtois was brought down again.
Croatia 4, Canada 1
AL RAYAN, Qatar — Croatia made a strong comeback to knock Canada out of its first World Cup in 36 years.
The 2018 runners-up got two goals from Andrej Kramaric on Sunday to beat the Canadian side, who were eliminated after two matches in Qatar.
Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal one minute into the match, but Marco Livai and Laura Maier also scored for Croatia, which lost to France in the final four years ago in Russia to start a goalless draw against Morocco.
Luka Modric, the 37-year-old captain who commands Croatia’s midfield, is still searching for his first goal of the tournament in what is likely to be his last World Cup.
Croatia and Morocco, who produced another upset at this year’s tournament with a 2-0 win over Belgium on Sunday, have four points each in Group F. Belgium have three points and still have a chance of progressing.
