Germany’s chances of a 2022 FIFA World Cup last-16 spot could depend on their final Group E match against Costa Rica, on December 1.
Hansi Flick’s side lost 2-1 to Japan in their opening game in one of the biggest group-stage shocks so far in Qatar.
Defeat against Hajime Moriyasu’s side set alarm bells ringing for Germany, on the back of a group-stage exit at Russia 2018. And now they are aiming to avoid a disastrous repeat.
The four-times winners will be desperate to avoid an early departure — but can Flick’s charges still make the knockouts, rather than being consigned to an early flight home from the Middle East?
MORE: How many times have Germany won the World Cup?
Can Germany still qualify?
Germany may have to win their final game against Costa Rica to stand any chance of reaching the last 16 in Qatar.
Ahead of facing old foes Spain, they are the only team in the group with zero points, and have a -1 goal difference.
Japan and Costa Rica both have one win and one defeat each, from two games, and goal difference could be crucial in the final placings in Group E.
Spain face Japan in the other final-round game in Group E.
World Cup Group E table and results
Here is how Group E looks as things stand:
| Team | PTS | GP | W | L | D | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Spain | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | +7 |
| 2. Japan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 3. Costa Rica | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | -6 |
| 4. Germany | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | -1 |
Here are the remaining Group E fixtures at Qatar 2022:
Germany’s World Cup record
Germany — and previously West Germany — have been one of the most consistent national teams in World Cup history, with 20 appearances from 22 tournaments.
That record is the second highest, behind only to Brazil, with the five-time winners appearing in all 22 World Cups since 1930.
A group-stage exit in 2018 — where they finished bottom of their group — caused a wave of national shock and the ultimate drawn-out departure of ex-Germany boss Joachim Low, and it marked a new low for the German team.
Prior to 2018, Germany/West Germany had reached at least the last eight in every World Cup since 1982, with their only other first round/group-stage exit coming in 1938 (when the competition was a straight knockout starting at the last 16).
| World Cup | Stage Reached | Record (W-D*-L) |
Goals |
| 1930 | DNE** | – | – |
| 1934 | Third Place | 3-0-1 | 11 |
| 1938 | First Round | 0-1-1 | 3 |
| 1950 | Banned by FIFA | – | – |
| 1954 | Won | 5-0-1 | 25 |
| 1958 | Fourth Place | 2-2-2 | 12 |
| 1962 | Quarterfinals | 2-1-1 | 4 |
| 1966 | Runners-up | 4-1-1 | 15 |
| 1970 | Third Place | 5-0-1 | 17 |
| 1974 | Won | 6-0-1 | 13 |
| 1978 | Second Group Stage | 1-4-1 | 10 |
| 1982 | Runners-up | 3-2-2 | 12 |
| 1986 | Runners-up | 3-2-2 | 8 |
| 1990 | Won | 5-2-0 | 15 |
| 1994 | Quarterfinals | 3-1-1 | 9 |
| 1998 | Quarterfinals | 3-1-1 | 8 |
| 2002 | Runners-up | 5-1-1 | 14 |
| 2006 | Third Place | 5-1-1 | 14 |
| 2010 | Third Place | 5-0-2 | 16 |
| 2014 | Won | 6-1-0 | 18 |
| 2018 | Group Stage | 1-0-2 | 2 |
*Denotes draws, including knockout matches decided on penalty kicks.
**Did not enter
Germany World Cup finals
- Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
- Runners-up (1966, 1982, 1986, 2002)
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