Germany beat Costa Rica 4-2 but are eliminated from World Cup 2022: World Cup result

Game over for Germany. They shouldn't expect kind words from the media back at home, because this really hasn't been good enough, whatever their squad's limitations may be.

They dug a hole against Japan, dug in admirably against Spain, but this was a very meagre effort, regardless of the four goals they scored.

Tschuss!

Which means that... Germany are eliminated in the group stage for the second successive World Cup.

That is an absolute disaster for Hansi Flick and the DFB.

Not that it matters that much, but Kai Havertz has been really good since coming on. He's scored two, set up a tap-in for Fullkrug and generally been everything he wasn't and Germany have lacked throughout much of this tournament.

Ten?

Ten?

TEN?

Germany need a goal every 90 seconds to advance.

Havertz has scored again after tapping in Gnabry's cross to the back-post, but it doesn't change much yet. Japan are still leading and as long as that stays the same, they and Spain will go through.

3-2.

The Athletic's Editor-in-Chief has a suggestion and it's a pretty good one.

Keylor Navas hasn't had a great tournament, but he might have just produced one of its best saves.

A Germany break leaves Fullkrug with what looks like a tap-in at the back post. He makes good contact, but Navas somehow recovers his ground, gets across his goal, and diverts the ball over the top.

A stupendous save. Goodness, that's brilliant goalkeeping.

2-2.

CAN EVERYONE STOP SCORING GOALS.

Kai Havertz has equalised! It doesn't mean much for Germany yet, but Spain are back in the Round of 16 as it stands.

The fight of the Ticos since that 7-0 loss has been something special. They have shown a willingness to keep fighting and to find ways into games.

And here's it's a connection of a right back, Fuller, to a center back, Kendall Waston, and then eventually finished off by Yeltsin Tejeda.

Germany have come flying back with chance after chance, but the crowd here has broken out with some Costa Rica chants to cheer on the Central American side.

Who knows how that changes the shape for Germany, but at this point its all an act of desperation from Hansi Flick.

Opens family WhatsApp group from back in Germany

No, I don't think we'll be able to publish much of that.

Puts phone away.

Musiala slices through the Costa Rican defence down the other end and, instead of squaring for Fullkrug, takes on the chance himself. It's nearly brilliant, but the shot comes back off the inside of the post and bounces clear.

A minute later, Rudiger hits the OTHER SIDE of the same post after stealing in ahead of his marker.

Doesn't feel like it's going to be Germany's night...

Germany need goals in a hurry and Hansi Flick has gone to his bench. Ilkay Gundogan is off, Niclas Fullkrug is on.

By our calculations, Germany need another six goals to move level with Spain on points, goal-difference and head-to-head. Germany have had three yellow cards so far and Spain have been awarded one though, so that would need to change also if they're to avoid elimination.

JAPAN LEAD!

If that result stands, beyond scoring another six more goals there's nothing Germany can do to save themselves.

You can follow all the latest updates from Japan vs Spain here.