DOHA, Qatar — Germany salvaged a 1-1 draw against Spain as Croatia bounced back strong and knocked Canada 4-1 while Morocco pulled off yet another World Cup shock, and it was Belgium’s aging “Golden Generation” that took the hit this time.
Germany keeps hopes alive
Germany gave themselves hope of avoiding another early World Cup exit when they snatched a 1-1 draw with Spain as substitute Niclas Fuellkrug fired home an 83rd minute equaliser that cancelled out Alvaro Morata’s opener.
The result leaves Germany facing a must-win match against Costa Rica in four days’ time and also means Spain has yet to book their spot in the knockout phase of the tournament, Reuters reported.
Spain tops the standings with four points and now need only a draw in their final Group E game against Japan to progress. A win would send them through to the knockout round in first place.
Germany, who lost 2-1 in their opener against Japan, is bottom of the table on one point. They need to win against Costa Rica on Thursday and their hopes then depend on Japan losing. If Japan draw it would come down to goal difference or goals scored by Germany and Japan.
Germany was looking in danger of suffering another early exit from the World Cup, after being eliminated following the group stage in 2018, before Fuellkrug took advantage of Jamal Musiala’s battling in the box to fire high into the net past Unai Simon in Spain’s goal.
Morata, himself a substitute, had increased the jeopardy for the Germans when he neatly flicked in a cross by Jordi Alba in the 62nd minute.
The Spaniards looked more relaxed from the start, cutting through Germany with their angled passing, and Dani Olmo almost created an early breakthrough in the seventh minute but his shot was palmed onto the bar by Manuel Neuer.
Morocco upsets Belgium
Morocco coach Walid Regragui said his team “can do anything” at the World Cup after their surprise 2-0 victory over Belgium.
The North Africans only need a point in their final Group F game against Canada on Thursday to reach the last 16 for the first time since 1986.
Late goals from Abdelhamid Sabiri and Zakaria Aboukhlal at the Al Thumama Stadium secured Morocco their first World Cup win in 24 years.
“We know if you don’t give 100 percent it’s impossible to win,” Regragui said according to AFP.
“But with these fans, with these players and this spirit we can do anything.
“The competition is not over; we have to recover quickly for the game against Canada. Hopefully we can get a good result for the qualification.”
All five African teams were dumped out in the group stage in Russia four years ago but Morocco joined Senegal in winning their second match in Qatar.
The Atlas Lions sit top of the group, having also held 2018 runners-up Croatia to a goalless draw.
“We can still be better,” said Regragui, who only took over as coach from the sacked Vahid Halilhodzic in August.
“I’m not happy with four points, I want more than that. I want to qualify.
“Of course it will be tougher if we get to the knockout stage but that’s the level I want to get to.
“We’ve matched two of the best teams in the world.”
The game started in bizarre fashion for Morocco, with goalkeeper Yassine Bounou asking to be withdrawn from the team after the national anthems.
Regragui said the Sevilla stopper had suffered an injury towards the end of Croatia game and felt something in the warm-up.
Munir El Kajoui took his place and made some crucial saves to keep a clean sheet.
“Munir did a great job. I have great players. They listen to the instructions and they fight with all of their heart,” added Regragui.
“Keep focused, keep positive and we will get great results.”
Morocco were roared on by the vast majority of the crowd in Doha.
“The Moroccan public is incredible. It is a people who love football,” said midfielder Selim Amallah, who was born in Belgium and plays his club football for Standard Liege.
“This is also why we play hard. We play for our nation, we play for the Moroccan people and we hope to make them proud.
Croatia beats Canada 4-1
The 2018 runners-up got two goals from Andrej Kramaric in a 4-1 victory over a Canadian team that has been eliminated after two matches in Qatar, AP reported.
Alphonso Davies scored Canada’s first-ever World Cup goal one minute into the match but Marko Livaja and Lovro Majer also scored for Croatia, which lost to France in the final four years ago in Russia and opened with a scoreless draw against Morocco.
Luka Modric, the 37-year-old captain who runs the midfield for Croatia, is still looking for his first goal of the tournament in what is likely his final World Cup.
Croatia and Morocco, which caused another upset at this year’s tournament by beating Belgium 2-0, both have four points in Group F. Belgium has three points and still has a chance to advance.
Canada, however, earned no points from its first two matches and can’t advance even if it beats Morocco on Thursday in its final match. Croatia and Belgium will play at the same time.
Davies, who plays for Bayern Munich, headed a cross from Tajon Buchanan just out of goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic’s reach 1 minute, 8 seconds into the match. The goal had the swath of red-shirted Canadian fans chanting “Can-a-da! Can-a-da!” at Khalifa International Stadium.
“I am disappointed in the result. It was not easy,” said Davies, who had a penalty saved in the opening loss to Belgium. “We did our best, we fought the entire game. We’re looking forward to the next game and hopefully we get some points.”
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