ANKARA, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- Former world champions Germany were eliminated from the group stage of the 2022 FIFA World Cup despite beating Costa Rica 4-2 on Thursday.
The 2014 World Cup winners were eliminated on goal difference, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Third-placed Germany in Group E have four points, but their goal difference was one, less than Spain.
During the match with Costa Rica, Germany scored the opener in the 10th minute at Al Bayt Stadium, as Serge Gnabry's header beat Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas.
Costa Rica levelled the match in the 58th minute as Yeltsin Tejeda scored after a rebound by German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
Several minutes later, Germany star Jamal Musiala hit the crossbar twice.
Costa Rica took a surprising 2-1 lead in the 70th minute as Juan Pablo Vargas scored from close range.
Only a few minutes later, Germany's Kai Havertz finished in the box to make it 2-2.
In the 85th minute, Germany came back as Havertz was on the score sheet again.
Germany forward Niclas Fullkrug made a close-range finish. His teammate Leroy Sane beat Costa Rica's offside trap to assist Fullkrug.
The Germans experienced a shocking group-phase elimination in the previous World Cup in Russia.
-- BERNAMA
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