Germany draw with Spain and stay alive in the World Cup

For the second consecutive Cup, Germany reaches the last round of the group stage under the risk of elimination. The situation could be even worse, but the 1-1 draw with Spain this Sunday (27th), at the Al Bayt stadium, keeps the four-time world champions in danger.

Spain, the most positive attack of the tournament (eight goals), had the advantage on the scoreboard and wasted the chance to qualify in advance for the round of 16. The team emerges as one of the favorites for the title not only for the results, but for the football.

With an exchange of passes at speed, the selection nicknamed Fúria involved the opponent at different times, but failed to win.

Germany faces Costa Rica next Thursday (1st) and has to win to advance. He would also need Spain to defeat Japan on the same day. In the event of a tie, the Japanese and Germans would decide the second place in Group E on goal difference. Both would have four points.

Since the victory over Argentina in the 2014 World Cup final, Germany has accumulated poor results in the tournament. It only won once in five matches. It had a draw and three defeats.

Four years ago, in Russia, the team also reached the last round with chances, but needing the victory. Lost 2-0 to South Korea.

Spain is recovering from the bad Cup it had in 2018. It did not perform well and ended up eliminated by Russia, in the round of 16, in the penalty shootout.

The game started with the appearance of another Spanish tour that, with its quick transitions from defense to attack and the movements of its players, dominated the first 20 minutes. Dani Olmo could have opened the scoring with a finish, but he hit the crossbar.

Germany managed to balance the actions until the break and only managed to do something on the field when the ball went through Gundogan. The same midfielder who complained about his teammates after the defeat in the debut against Japan and caused discomfort in the squad.

What Spain lacked was a more incisive player in attack, with greater finishing skills, not just speed touches. Álvaro Morata gave that to the team when he entered the field at eight of the second half. Nine minutes later, he volleyed in Jordi Alba’s cross for the goal.

Germany’s situation had become desperate and the specter of elimination loomed. Their crowd at the stadium even stopped taking part in the ball pulled by the Spaniards. It was no longer the time for that.

Salvation, like Fury, also came off the bench. Fullkrug kicked as a center forward, strong and high in the 37th minute to equalize. It wasn’t the ideal result, but it kept Germany alive.

Germany lack the ability to penetrate, to be more incisive when reaching the goal. The 2014 world champion team did not have an area striker and also bet on constantly changing positions. But it was much deadlier than the selection that takes the field in Qatar.

Spain is trying to repeat the magic of 2010, which wrongly coined the term tiki taka. No wonder hated by its greatest exponent, Pep Guardiola. He said that the one practiced by Barcelona and replicated by the world champion Furia in South Africa was anything but tiki taka. The expression was coined to define the sterile ball touch, to the side, without objectivity.

That’s everything Spain hasn’t been doing in the 2022 World Cup.