November 27, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

Our live coverage has ended for the day. Read more about Spain and Germany’s big match here, or scroll through the updates below for more on today’s action.

Every Group E team has a chance to advance to the Round of 16 heading in to the final group stage match. 

For Germany to move on, they must defeat Costa Rica in their final group game.

A German win coupled with a Japanese loss against Spain would put Germany through.

Should Germany win and Japan tie Spain, goal differential would break a tie in the standings between Germany and Japan. Japan has a one goal edge in that category, as of Sunday.

Costa Rica can advance with a win against Germany. They won’t be favored, but we’ve seen underdogs win plenty already in Qatar.

Spain is sitting in the driver’s seat — it sits atop the standings with four points. It also has a huge lead in goal difference, in the case its game ended in a draw or a loss.

Remember: “Goal differential” or “goal difference,” the standings tiebreaker referenced above, is a simple calculation: The total number of goals a team has scored, minus the number of goals it has allowed.

The top two teams from each group move on to the single-elimination Round-of-16, or “knockout stage,” of the tournament.

Spain's Álvaro Morata, center, jumps to head the ball during a match between Spain and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday.

Today’s marquee matchup ended in a 1-1 tie between Germany and Spain, the former World Cup winners.

The two entered the game in very different positions, with Spain atop the Group E standings after a 7-0 drubbing of Costa Rica. Meanwhile, Germany was at the bottom of the standings and trying to bounce back from a shock loss to Japan.

Even with the draw, Spain remains well in control of its fate with four points, alone atop the group.

Germany still has life with one point, but has a lot of work to do in its next match against Costa Rica.

Match recap:

This one went into the half deadlocked at 0-0.

In the 7th minute, Spain’s Dani Olmo rifled an attempt from the edge of the 18-yard box. But his shot was pushed off the underside of the bar by German goalie Manuel Neuer. It was the closest La Roja came to breaking the deadlock in the early going.

Germany appeared to take the lead when Antonio Rüdiger headed one home from a free kick in the 39th minute. But the Germans were ruled offside and the goal was crossed off.

In the second half, Germany came out pressing as they fought for their World Cup lives.

Spain had trouble getting out of its own half in the early minutes of the second period. In the 49th minute, Germany earned a free kick in a dangerous spot but wasted the opportunity. In the 55th minute, a costly turnover forced Spanish goalie Unai Simón into an outstretched save on a Joshua Kimmich shot.

Coming off the bench, Álvaro Morata became the difference-maker for La Roja.

In the 62nd minute, the 30-year-old Spanish striker found the back of the net to break the deadlock and give Spain the 1-0 lead.

Germany made a valiant effort to get the goal back. In the 70th minute, Jamal Musiala had a great chance to equalize for Germany from point break range. But Simon stood tall to make the block and keep the Germans out.

Finally, 20 minutes after Spain took the lead, Germany broke through. In the 82nd minute, Niclas Füllkrug beat Simon and squared the match late.

No one scored in the little time remaining despite a few promising chances, and the two teams ended in a deadlock.

Germany's Niclas Füllkrug celebrates after scoring a goal against Spain to make it 1-1 at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday.

Niclas Füllkrug beat Spain’s goaltender Unai Simón in the 83rd minute to make it 1-1.

Álvaro Morata celebrates scoring Spain's first goal at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday.

Spain has broken through and found a way!

Coming off the bench, 30-year-old striker Álvaro Morata gets the goal for La Roja in the 62nd minute.

We’re back underway in the final World Cup match of the day.

Spain 0, Germany 0.

Costa Rica celebrates after winning a match against Japan at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar on Sunday.

If this morning’s match between Costa Rica and Japan had ended as expected, this game between Spain and Germany would have carried higher immediate stakes for both sides.

Instead, Costa Rica pulled off a stunning upset. Now, the fate of these two former World Cup winners will not be sealed this evening.

Here’s how it’s looking in Group E, according to FIFA:

Spain cannot mathematically clinch a Round of 16 berth even if they win because of Costa Rica’s victory.

A win or even a draw would leave La Roja in great position, though. The team entered play with three points and sits atop the group with a huge goal difference advantage. (Remember, that’s the standings tiebreaker based on the total number of goals scored, minus the number of goals allowed.)

Germany cannot be eliminated even if they lose, again, because of Costa Rica’s unlikely win.

A loss would put the Germans in a very tough position, though, as they enter play at the bottom of the Group E standings. If they can fight to a draw and muster at least one point, they’ll be in better position heading into their next match as favorites against Costa Rica (though we’ve seen plenty of favorites fall in this tournament).

Obviously, a win is the best-case scenario and will shake up the group standings ahead of the all-important final round of games.

Remember: The top two teams from each group move on to the single-elimination Round-of-16, or “knockout stage,” of the tournament.

Spain's Dani Olmo runs with the ball during a match between Spain and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday.

It’s all knotted at 0-0 halfway through Spain vs Germany.

Big scoring chances have been hard to come by in this tight affair between two highly-ranked powerhouses of the sport.

In the 7th minute, Spain’s Dani Olmo rifled an attempt from the edge of the 18-yard box. But his shot was pushed off the underside of the bar by German goalie Manuel Neuer. It was the closest La Roja came to breaking the deadlock.

On the other end, Germany’s Serge Gnabry created a nervous moment for Spain later in the first half when he took an errant clearance from goaltender Unai Simon at the edge of the box, but his shot sailed wide.

Germany appeared to take the lead when Antonio Rüdiger headed one home from a free kick in the 39th minute. But the Germans were ruled offside and the goal was crossed off.

Spain has dominated possession as they are wont to do. But Germany’s press has looked threatening at times. Surely, there’s at least a goal in here somewhere!

The two teams currently sit at either side of the table in Group E, with Spain at the top and Germany at the bottom. Spain can’t mathematically clinch its spot in the next round tonight, and Germany cannot technically be eliminated.

Antonio Rüdiger of Germany scores a goal but the goal was crossed off for the Germans being offside at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday.

In the 39th minute, Germany’s Antonio Rüdiger headed one home from a free kick. But the Germans were ruled offside and the goal was crossed off.

It’s still 0-0 late in the 1st half.

The inside of Al Bayt Stadium as the team flags are displayed before the match in Al Khor, Qatar on Sunday.

Here we go…

The marquee match of the day between Spain and Germany has begun.

Spain

Manager: Luis Enrique

Goalkeeper: Unai Simon

Defenders: Rodri, Jordi Alba, Dani Carvajal, Aymeric Laporte

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri Gonzalez

Forwards: Marco Asensio, Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo

————————–

Germany

Manager: Hansi Flick

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Defenders: Antonio Reudiger, David Raum, Thilo Kehrer, Niklas Suele

Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Guendogan

Forwards: Thomas Mueller

For the squad list of all the teams playing in the World Cup, click here.

Japan players celebrate their 2-1 win over Germany at Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday.

Japan’s stunning victory over four-time World Cup champion Germany on Wednesday provided another upset in a tournament already marked by history-making upsets.

Germany dominated for large periods of the match and had plenty of opportunities to extend its lead after going up 1-0. But Japan rode its luck and was clinical when the chances arrived. Ultimately, the team defeated Germany 2-1.

Though not on the level of Saudi Arabia’s victory over Argentina on Tuesday, seldom few people had predicted Wednesday’s result.

The early slate Sunday brought more surprise outcomes, with Morocco defeating world No. 2 Belgium and Costa Rica beating Japan 1-0.

What’s next: Japan’s victory blew Group E wide open and gave Germany a real mountain to climb – the 2014 World Cup winner faces the daunting prospect of Spain next.

Germany players pose with their hands covering their mouths as they line up for the team's photo prior to the World Cup game against Japan.

It was a moment so brief that the thousands of fans inside the Khalifa International Stadium on Wednesday could easily have missed it.

But in the time it took for the photographers amassed in front of Germany’s World Cup team to snap a picture, the four-time winners sent a message to soccer’s world governing body.

Germany’s starting 11 all posed with their right hands in front of their mouths, and within minutes, the image was circulating widely on social media.

And as Germany kicked off their World Cup campaign against Japan in Group E, the team’s social media feed confirmed that the gesture was designed as a protest to FIFA’s decision to ban the “OneLove” armband that many European captains had been hoping to wear in Qatar.

Before the tournament, captains from England, Wales, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and Denmark had planned to wear the armbands – which features a striped heart in different colors to represent all heritages, backgrounds, genders and sexual identities. But FIFA made it clear on Monday that players would be yellow carded for donning the bands in the World Cup.

On Wednesday, the German Football Federation (DFB) released a series of tweets shortly after the game had kicked off indicating that FIFA had prevented them from using their voices to speak up at the World Cup for issues they felt passionate about, hence the protest.

“We wanted to use our captain’s armband to take a stand for values that we hold in the Germany national team: diversity and mutual respect,” the DFB said. “Together with other nations, we wanted our voice to be heard.

“It wasn’t about making a political statement – human rights are non-negotiable. That should be taken for granted, but it still isn’t the case. That’s why this message is so important to us.

“Denying us the armband is the same as denying us a voice,’ added the DFB. “We stand by our position.”

Croatia's supporters cheer during the match between Croatia and Canada on Sunday.

Croatia beat Canada 4-1 in their Group F match.

With the victory, Croatia ends the day atop the group, with four points earned in its first two matches.

And with the loss, Canada’s dreams of advancing to the knockout round are dashed. They are officially eliminated from tournament contention after the defeat.

Match recap:

Canada wasted no time opening the scoring. Just 68 seconds into the match, Alphonso Davies put the Canadians up 1-0. It was Canada’s first-ever goal at the World Cup.

After taking the lead, Canada looked lively. But in the latter part of the first half, Croatia took control. 

In the 36th minute, Andrej Kramaric lasered a ball past the Canadian keeper Milan Borjan. Ten minutes earlier, Kramaric found the back of the net but the play was whistled offside. 

Just a few minutes later, Croatia scored a second and took the lead 2-1. Marko Livaja picked the ball up just outside the 18-yard box and found the bottom right corner of the net.

Canada looked like it was reeling going into the break, but the players settled down to start the second half.

In the 48th minute, a potential equalizer sailed just wide of Croatia’s right post. Then, in the 53rd minute, Croatia nearly got a third, but Canadian keeper Borjan made a big save to keep it out.

In the 70th minute, Croatia finally extended its lead to 3-1. Andrej Kramaric scored his second on the night to give the Croatians a two-goal cushion. 

In stoppage time, the Croatians added insult to injury. Lovro Majer, who came on as a substitute, found the back of the net to make it 4-1 in the 94th minute.

Croatia players celebrate their team’s fourth goal against Canada on Sunday.

The Croatians punished the Canadians with a late goal in stoppage time to make it 4-1.

Andrej Kramaric scores Croatia’s third goal in the match against Canada on Sunday.

Croatia has extended its lead to 3-1 in the 70th minute.

Andrej Kramaric scored his second on the night to give the Croatians a two-goal cushion.

Bruno Petkovic of Croatia heads the ball during Sunday’s match against Canada.

The second half is underway between Croatia and Canada.

Croatia leads 2-1 and closed the second half in command, scoring twice in quick succession. Can Canada regain control? Let’s go!

Croatia's players celebrate their second goal against Canada on Sunday.

It’s Croatia 2, Canada 1 at halftime in their Group F match.

Canada wasted no time opening the scoring. Just 68 seconds into the game, Alphonso Davies put the Canadians up 1-0. It was Canada’s first-ever goal at the World Cup.

After taking the lead, Canada looked lively. But in the latter part of the half, Croatia took control.

In the 36th minute, Andrej Kramaric lasered a ball past the Canadian keeper Milan Borjan. Ten minutes earlier, Kramaric found the back of the net but the play was whistled offside.

Just a few minutes later, Croatia scored a second and took the lead 2-1. Marko Livaja picked the ball up just outside the 18-yard box and found the bottom right corner of the net.

Canada looked to be reeling as the first period came to a close. Let’s see if they can turn it around and regain momentum.

Croatia's Marko Livaja scores his team's second goal against Canada on Sunday.

Just a few minutes after tying it up, Croatia scores a second and now leads Canada 2-1 late in the first half.

In the 44th minute, Marko Livaja picked the ball up just outside the 18-yard box and found the bottom right corner of the net.

Croatia's Andrej Kramaric celebrates scoring his team's first goal against Canada on Sunday.

Croatia ratcheted up the pressure in the latter part of the half, and Andrej Kramaric just found pay dirt.

In the 36th minute, Kramaric lasered a ball past the Canadian keeper Milan Borjan.

Ten minutes earlier, Kramaric found the back of the net, but the play was whistled offside.

This one stuck, and Croatia and Canada are all square at 1-1.