Germany showed class and grit in their last game of the group stage with a 4-2 win over Costa Rica, but it wasn’t enough to save them from elimination.Β
Hansi Flick’s team needed a victory to secure qualification to the next round, which they did get, however, their fate was equally tied to the outcome of the game between Japan and Spain, which ended 2-1 in favour of Japan.Β
The defeat to Japan moved Spain from first to second in the group, levelled on four points with third place Germany.Β
However,Β a superior goal difference of 6 sent Spain through, while Germany crashed out of the World Cup at the group stage for the second time in a roll.Β
Japan and Spain qualifed from Group E andΒ will Croatia and Morocco, respectively in the last 16.Β
