December 1, 2022 World Cup news and highlights

Japan's Ao Tanaka celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Spain.

It was an incredible match.

Spain had expectedly dominated the ball in the first half, keeping Japan on the chase and then, striker Alvaro Morata had secured the opening goal for Spain early in the match too.

But Japan stood up a phenomenal campaign against La Furia Roja getting two goals one after the other in the 48th and 51st minutes. Spain was just unable to reply throughout the second half.

The Blue Samurai’s triumphant advance to the Round of 16 atop Group E is especially spectacular give the stats: the team only had possession of the ball for less than 20% of the entire match, and lesser attempted shots at the Spanish goal too.

Spain also squeaked through to the knockout round as Costa Rica failed to defeat Germany.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the nickname of Spain’s team. It is La Furia Roja.

We have a final at Al Bayt Stadium, with Germany winning 4-2.

The Germans roared back in the second half and scored two late goals for a commanding victory. But to no avail.

Ultimately, the action determining whether Germany could advance to the Round of 16 was taking place in the other Group E match, where Japan defeated Spain 2-1, assuring both those teams will advance.

Germany's Niclas Fullkrug scores his team's fourth goal.

Germany has scored again, making it 4-2 late against Costa Rica.

But the Germans can’t do much to control their fate. They need Spain to mount a comeback against Japan. Spain trails 2-1 in stoppage time.

Germany's Kai Havertz scores his team's third goal.

Germany is back ahead, leading Costa Rica 3-2 late in the second half.

Kai Havertz scored the goal off of a cross from midfielder Serge Gnabry in the 85th minute.

It was Havertz’s second goal of the night – and positioned Germany to at least have a shot at advancing to the Round of 16.

It would need help from Spain, though, and Japan is still ahead 2-1 late in the other Group E match.

Germany's Kai Havertz, in white, scores his team's second goal against Costa Rica.

Minutes after Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead, Germany’s Kai Havertz equalized to make it 2-2.

Costa Rica's Juan Pablo Vargas scores his team's second goal against Germany.

Costa Rica has scored again and taken a 2-1 lead over Germany at Al Bayt Stadium.

Defender Juan Pablo Vargas found the net amid a scrum near the goal.

Germany and Spain are on the brink of elimination, as an improbable sequence of events plays out in Group E.

Costa Rica's Yeltsin Tejeda scores his team's first goal against Germany.

Costa Rica has tied up its match with Germany at 1-1 with a goal from Yeltsin Tejeda.

The midfielder pounced on a deflection from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and drove the ball into the net in the 58th minute.

It was Tejeda’s first international goal.

Japan's Ao Tanaka celebrates after scoring his team's second goal.

Japan has a stunned with a swift second goal against Spain. Ao Tanaka helped capture the lead for the Blue Samurai in the 53rd minute of play.

At first, quick suspense followed because it was unclear if the ball was over the line — and hence out of play — before the goal happened, but it was allowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

The tables have turned, and now it is Spain’s turn to even the score.

Where things stand: Japan 2, Spain 1

Japan's Ritsu Doan scores his team's first goal against Spain.

Japan has just scored its equalizer against Spain, and the team is still very much in the game, vying to go to the knockouts.

Referee Stephanie Frappart warms up alongside assistant referees Karen Diaz, left, and Neuza Back, right, before the match between Germany and Costa Rica.

Stéphanie Frappart made history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.

Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico, the French referee is part of an all-female refereeing trio currently officiating Costa Rica vs. Germany in their Group E match.

In 2019, Frappart became the first female referee to take charge of a Ligue 1 match; in August 2019, the first to take charge of a major men’s European match; and in 2020, the first to officiate a men’s UEFA Champions League match.

Frappart before the match on Thursday.

Assistants referee Karen Diaz looks on during gameplay.

Costa Rica's Yeltsin Tejeda argues with Frappart.

Referee assistant Neuza Back warms up prior to the match.

Frappart runs past Ilkay Gundogan of Germany during gameplay.

Costa Rica will look to erase its 1-0 deficit against Germany in the second half.

As things stand in both Group E matches, Germany would currently move on to the Round of 16.

The Germans’ most direct path to the knockout stage is a Spain win against Japan and a victory of their own against Costa Rica.

The Costa Ricans are also rooting for a Spanish victory, but they’ll first need to pull ahead of Germany if they want a shot at advancing.

Japan's Junya Ito shoots at goal against Spain on Thursday.

The Samurai Blue will look for an equalizer in this second half during their rescue campaign in these next 45 minutes (plus stoppage time).

Japan has been taking risks, trying to create some openings to score that first goal, but they’ve struggled to get possession of the ball, and so far, the team has only amassed three yellow cards.

Remember: If Japan loses, it will be eliminated from the World Cup.

Spain 1-0 Japan

Germany's Jamal Musiala, right, controls the ball next to his teammate Leon Gorentzka during their match against Costa Rica.

It’s halftime for Costa Rica and Germany at Al Bayt Stadium.

The Germans lead 1-0, despite a few late chances for Costa Rica to equalize.

Spain's Álvaro Morata in action against Japan.

Japan has had to do a lot of chasing in the first half with Spain dominating possession of the ball for 77% of play time. La Furia Roja has also taken double the shots at the Samurai Blue’s goal.

Japan will go back to the locker room for a brainstorm on how they could score the equalizer after that header from Spain’s Álvaro Morata.

Spain 1-0 Japan

Álvaro Morata of Spain celebrates scoring his side's first goal against Japan on Thursday.

Striker Álvaro Morata headed the ball into the net after receiving a cross from defender César Azpilicueta to score an opening goal for Spain in the 12th minute of the game!

Germany's Serge Gnabry, center, scores his team's first goal against Costa Rica on Thursday.

The Germans have pulled ahead in their Group E match against Costa Rica.

Midfielder Serge Gnabry opened the scoring in the 10th minute with a header – off a cross from David Raum – shortly after missing an almost identical attempt.

It’s 1-0, Germany.

Japan vs Spain is underway at Khalifa International Stadium and Costa Rica vs Germany has begun at Al Bayt Stadium.

These matches will decide who moves on to the knockout stage from Group E. Let’s go!

A general view inside Al Bayt Stadium prior to the match between Costa Rica and Germany on Thursday.

Spain faces Japan and Costa Rica faces Germany at 2 p.m. ET. They are all vying for two spots in the Round of 16.

Here’s how the scenarios could shake out:

Costa Rica and Germany compete for a spot in the knockouts at 2 p.m. ET. Here are their starting lineups.

Costa Rica

Manager: Luis Fernando Suárez

Goalkeeper: Keylor Navas

Defenders: Óscar Duarte, Kendall Waston, Juan Pablo Vargas

Midfielders: Keysher Fuller, Celso Borges, Yeltsin Tejeda, Bryan Oviedo, Brandon Aguilera, Joel Campbell

Forward: Johan Venegas

Germany

Manager: Hansi Flick

Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer

Defenders: Antonio Rüdiger, Niklas Süle, David Raum, Joshua Kimmich

Midfielders: İlkay Gündoğan, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sané, Jamal Musiala

Striker: Thomas Müller

Japan and Spain will face each other at 2 p.m. today. Here are the starting lineups

Japan

Manager: Hajime Moriyasu

Goalkeeper: Shuichi Gonda

Defenders: Maya Yoshida, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Miki Yamane

Midfielders: Junya Ito, Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka, Yuto Nagatomo

Forward: Daizen Maeda, Daichi Kamada, Takefusa Kubo

Spain

Manager: Luis Enrique

Goalkeeper: Unai Simón

Defenders: César Azpilicueta, Pau Torres, Alejandro Balde, Rodrigo Hernández (Rodri)

Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Gavi, Pedri

Forwards: Nico Williams, Álvaro Morata, Dani Olmo,