Izuchukwu Okosi
Action in Groups E and F continued Sunday after an action-packed opening week at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
One of the favorites in Group E — four-time men’s World Cup champion Germany — dropped in a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Japan on Wednesday. But the Germans were able to bounce back and snag a much-needed point against Spain to keep knockout round hopes alive.
Join our WhatsApp Channel
Elsewhere, Croatia eliminated Canada, who is playing in its first World Cup since 1986 and coming off a hard-fought 1-0 defeat against Belgium. Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal in the second minute, but Croatia came back with vengeance, winning 4-1.
Whilst they will be aiming to avoid being knocked out, Canada have already fallen at the first hurdle. They took the lead against 2018 finalists Croatia but ended up on the wrong end of a 4-1 reverse.
For Germany forward Niclas Füllkrug salvaged a 1-1 draw against Spain on Sunday at the World Cup.
The Germans still need to win their last group match to have a chance of advancing to the knockout stage. The four-time champions were eliminated in the group stage four years ago in Russia.
Germany will next face Costa Rica, which defeated Japan 1-0 earlier Sunday. Even a win may not be enough for the Germans, who are in last place in Group E and need the other result to go their way.
READ ALSO: Nigeria-born Musiala Impresses In Germany’s Shock Defeat Against Japan
Spain can reach the last 16 with a draw against Japan but Costa Rica irrespective if the outcome of their last group match has been eliminated.
The four teams’ coaches will be inundated with questions about their chances of qualifying for the last 16 stages at the post match press conference.
All last group stage matches will be played simultaneously with 4pm and 8pm kickoffs. The last round of matches will be rounded off on Friday December 2.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
