The third and final round of the 2022 World Cup’s Group E couldn’t have been more exciting. Each of the four sides had a shot at progressing to the last 16, and an array of permutations throughout the afternoon had every nation in the qualification zone at one point. The path for Costa Rica was simple, although unlikely: they had to beat four-time champions Germany.
And, for a few minutes late in the second half, the miracle was happening.
Los Ticos went a goal down early in the match and seemed powerless to stop a German onslaught in the first half, but they got into the dressing room at the interval only a goal behind.
In the second half, the outlook changed. Japan staged a monumental comeback against Spain in the group’s other match, which left Germany needing to score six goals in order to qualify. And, as the favorites streamed forward in search of the net, Costa Rica stunned them on the counterattack.
Yeltsin Tejada brought Los Ticos level, before an own goal by Germany keeper Manuel Neuer had them 2-1 in front. That combination of results would have meant Spain and Germany would be eliminated, and Japan and Costa Rica would qualify in their place.
Things turned sour for Costa Rica, however, principally due to the introduction of Germany’s attacking midfielder Kai Havertz. Arriving fresh into the match, the Chelsea midfielder orchestrated his side’s own comeback, scoring twice and setting up Niclas Füllkrug to win 4-2.
The victory, however, proved irrelevant to the Germans, as Japan’s victory saw them eliminated from the tournament at the group stage for the second World Cup in succession.
With no further appointments in Qatar, the sole Central American representative in the competition returns home disappointed, after losing 7-0 to Spain, sneaking a win against group winner Japan, and today’s defeat to Germany.
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