The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will certainly be remembered for many things, and one of them will be Germany’s elimination from the tournament.

The Germans took on Costa Rica last night, Thursday 1 December, at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, Qatar. Despite Germany scoring a 4-2 victory, it was Spain’s 2-1 loss to Japan that caused an upset in Group E.

Japan leapt to the top with six points, but Germany fell to third place in the group with four points – Spain also sits with four points but earned second place based on goal difference – and was ultimately knocked out of the group stages, thus missing the final 16 fixtures.

The heavy atmosphere was keenly felt by the German players, and forward Thomas Muller articulated how “powerless” everyone was feeling.

He said: “It is unbelievably bitter for us because our result would have been enough.”

Muller was part of the squad that won the 2014 World Cup at home, and also part of the team that was knocked out of the group stages at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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