World Cup Daily podcast: Germany and Belgium bow out amid high drama.

'Comeback kings Japan cannot be underestimated'.

Germany head coach Hansi Flick looked devastated at final whistle, defender Antonio Rudiger slumped and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer stared blankly - disbelievingly - into the distance. Japan's victory over Spain made sure of that. Germany had the win they needed to give them any chance of survival - but it was to no avail. Kai Havertz scored twice to restore some semblance of order, with Niclas Fullkrug's fourth of no consolation whatsoever. What were the odds on that before a ball was kicked?īut it didn't last.

Incredibly, Germany and Spain were heading towards the exit. This meant, for three heady minutes, that Costa Rica were going through alongside Japan. It came at the end of a night that promised - for a few minutes at least - to be one of the most momentous in World Cup history, Costa Rica overturning Germany's early lead thanks to goals by Yeltsin Tejeda and Juan Pablo Vargas. The sight of Germany's players gazing at a bank of empty red seats was the grim conclusion to a painful campaign, their fate already known before the final whistle and prompting many of their fans to vacate the premises. Given that record, Germany now find themselves dangerously close to slipping into football's 'B List'. Who is through in World Cup and who could join them?.The best social media VAR explainers of Japan's goal.

Did it cross the line? Germany out on dramatic night.It had not happened in 16 previous tournaments before then. This is the second World Cup in a row that Germany have failed to get out of their group, after they suffered the same fate at Russia 2018. Germany, once regarded as nailed-on certainties to go deep into major tournaments, bowed out of the World Cup on goal difference despite a chaotic 4-2 win Costa Rica, with Japan's win over Spain proving terminal to their hopes.

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