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Germany came from behind to beat Costa Rica 4-2
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Kai Havertz came on as substitue to score twice
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The result didn’t prevent Germany bowing out
Costa Rica 2-4 Germany
Goals: Gnabry (10), Yeltsin (58), Vargas (70), Havertz (73 & 85), Fullkrug (89)
Kai Havertz rose from the bench to inspire Germany to a 4-2 comeback victory over Costa Rica, but it proved insufficient to avoid group-stage elimination for the second FIFA World Cup™ running.
Serge Gnabry headed Germany ahead early on, but goals from Yeltsin Tejeda and Juan Pablo Vargas sent Costa Rica into a 2-1 lead. Havertz then scored twice before Niclas Fullkrug sealed a 4-2 victory. Japan’s reverse of Spain nonetheless saw Germany suffer elimination.
Key moment
Flick had urged Havertz to score more predatory goals pre-tournament, and his back-post tap-in was exactly what his coach had called for. It got Germany the three points, though they proved in vain.
The state
Manuel Neuer played his 19th World Cup game, eclipsing Sepp Maier and Taffarel and becoming the goalkeeper with the most appearances in the competition.
Player of the Match
Kai Havertz.