Striker Álvaro Morata headed the ball into the net after receiving a cross from defender César Azpilicueta to score an opening goal for Spain in the 12th minute of the game!
December 1, 2022 World Cup news and highlights
By Aditi Sangal, Leighton Rowell, Matt Meyer and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN
Updated 3:06 p.m. ET, December 6, 2022
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Álvaro Morata scores an opener for Spain
GOAL! Germany takes an early 1-0 lead
The Germans have pulled ahead in their Group E match against Costa Rica.
Midfielder Serge Gnabry opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a header – off a cross from David Raum – shortly after missing an almost identical attempt.
It's 1-0, Germany.
The Group E matches just kicked off
Japan vs Spain is underway at Khalifa International Stadium and Costa Rica vs Germany has begun at Al Bayt Stadium.
These matches will decide who moves on to the knockout stage from Group E. Let's go!
Here are the stakes in the 2 matches between 4 teams at 2 p.m. ET
Spain faces Japan and Costa Rica faces Germany at 2 p.m. ET. They are all vying for two spots in the Round of 16.
Here's how the scenarios could shake out:
- Spain will qualify for the Round of 16 with a win or a draw. A loss to Japan would leave them relying on goal difference to progress (though they currently have a sizable lead). That's unless Costa Rica beat Germany, in which case Spain will be out with a loss.
- Japan can go through with a victory against Spain. A draw coupled with deadlock in the Costa Rica vs Germany clash would also ensure they progress. They will go out if they are beaten by Spain, or if the match ends in a draw and Costa Rica triumphs against Germany. Goal difference will decide Japan's fate if they draw and Germany is victorious.
- Costa Rica can reach the last 16 by defeating Germany. The team can also move on if Spain overcomes Japan. But if the current group leaders are beaten, then goal difference comes into play. A draw in both games or a defeat for Costa Rica puts them out.
- Germany must pick up three points to stay in contention. Victory over Costa Rica coupled with a win for Spain against Japan will see them qualify. A draw between Luis Enrique’s side and the Samurai Blue, or a win for Japan, would take the equation to goal difference. All other results would see Hansi Flick’s men out of the competition.
Costa Rica vs Germany: These are the lineups ahead of their 2 p.m. match
Costa Rica and Germany compete for a spot in the knockouts at 2 p.m. ET. Here are their starting lineups.
Costa Rica
Manager: Luis Fernando Suárez
Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas
Defenders: Óscar Duarte, Kendall Waston, Juan Pablo Vargas
Midfielders: Keysher Fuller, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Bryan Oviedo, Brandon Aguilera, Joel Campbell
Forward: Johan Venegas
Germany
Manager: Hansi Flick
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer
Defenders: Antonio Rüdiger, Niklas Süle, David Raum, Joshua Kimmich
Midfielders: İlkay Gündoğan, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala
Striker: Thomas Müller
Japan vs Spain: Here are the lineups ahead of the Group E match
Japan and Spain will face each other at 2 p.m. today. Here are the starting lineups
Japan
Manager: Hajime Moriyasu
Goalkeeper: Shuichi Gonda
Defenders: Maya Yoshida, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Miki Yamane
Midfielders: Junya Ito, Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka, Yuto Nagatomo
Forward: Daizen Maeda, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo
Spain
Manager: Luis Enrique
Goalkeeper: Unai Simón
Defenders: César Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Alejandro Balde, Rodrigo Hernández (Rodri)
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri
Forwards: Nico Williams, Álvaro Morata, Dani Olmo,
Belgian soccer coach Roberto Martinez resigns after World Cup exit
Roberto Martinez will step down as coach of Belgium's national soccer team, the Royal Belgian Football Association announced Thursday, after the Red Devils were eliminated from the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Considered a European heavyweight, Belgium needed a win to advance to the knockout stage. But the draw rested their fate on the match between Morocco and Canada. When Morocco won 2-1, it ended the World No. 2's campaign in this tournament, denying them from competing in the Round of 16.
“That was my last game with the national team and it’s emotional, as you can imagine. It has been amazing," a tearful Martinez said following the defeat. "Everything you want to do in a club, we have been able to do it in a national team. It makes me extremely proud. This team have given everyone incredible joy. But now it’s time to accept that this is my last game.”
Martinez took charge of Belgium in 2016 and helped the Red Devils to a third-place finish in the 2018 World Cup.
What to expect from the Costa Rica vs Germany game
From CNN's Ben Church
After a poor start to its World Cup campaign, Germany is now staring down the barrel of elimination heading into its last Group E game at Qatar 2022.
Their shock defeat to Japan on the opening day put the Germans in a difficult position, but they rallied in their second game against Spain to earn a hard-fought draw.
It means the 2014 world champion, which sits bottom of the group on one point, now needs to beat Costa Rica on Thursday and hope Spain beats Japan in order to progress into the knockout stage of the competition.
A draw in the group’s other game could be enough for Germany, but its fate would then depend on goal difference.
Speaking after the vital draw against Spain, Germany manager Hansi Flick said he hoped his team would gather some confidence for the crunch match at the Al Bayt Stadium after a more positive performance against Spain.
“Maybe, it is the spark we need,” Flick said. “The team fought hard and I am very satisfied with their mentality. These are the things we want and we know that we did take the first step.
USA's Christian Pulisic taking it "day-by-day" ahead of critical World Cup match
From CNN's David Close
Team USA soccer star Christian Pulisic said he is taking his pelvic injury “day-by-day” ahead of the crucial Qatar World Cup clash versus the Netherlands on Saturday.
"I'm taking it day-by-day for now and I will do everything in my power to work with this medical team and make sure I can play," Pulisic said during a news conference at US training camp, adding that his pelvic contusion was painful but improving.
Pulisic noted, "I didn't get, like, hit in the balls, but, like, it's not like. I’m alright. I’m alright. It was very painful, and that bone is there for a reason to protect you, I think. And I hit it well, and it was sore, but like I said, I'm getting better.”
The 24-year-old team USA forward, also known as Captain America, was taken to hospital due to an abdominal injury he suffered while scoring the game-winning goal for the United States in its crucial 1-0 win over Iran at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
He was later diagnosed with a pelvic contusion, but was not hospitalized.
Despite his injury, Pulisic was full of praise for the players around him.
"It feels great to be where we're at right now, but there's still more to come," he said.
Pulisic described his confusion after being hurt as he bundled the ball in against Iran in the United States' final group game, and then his tension as he followed the second half via a trainer's telephone while receiving treatment.
"It was like the hardest thing. I think they were checking my blood sugar and everything, and I was flying through the roof. But it wasn't because of anything. It was just me stress-watching the game. But once I got through that and the final whistle blew, I was obviously very happy,” Pulisic said.
Teammate Timothy Weah, who has also grabbed one goal in Qatar so far, said the United States were not underestimating the challenge against the higher-ranked Dutch team despite the strong start.
"I think we all know that Netherlands is a big team, with a lot of quality players," he said, adding that he hoped his side were raising the profile of the sport in the United States where basketball, baseball and American football dominate.
"I think everyone back home is realizing that their team has talent. It's up to us to take it as far as we can go and make a statement."
CNN's Kevin Dotson and Matias Grez contributed to this report.