Germany still standing at World Cup after draw against Spain

Germany forward Niclas Fullkrug 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.

Germany has one point, two behind Japan and Costa Rica. Spain has four points and holds a big goal difference thanks to its opening 7-0 rout of Costa Rica.

The match between the pretournament favorites was one of the most anticipated in the group stage.

Spain tried to control the pace of the game with ball possession but wasn’t able to create many significant opportunities until Alvaro Morata found the net in the 62nd minute with a nice onetouch from close range after a well-place low cross from Jordi Alba.

Germany struggled and only threatened sporadically in a few breakaways and set pieces, but Fullkrug finally found the equalizer in the 83rd with a shot from close range into the top of the net.

The goal kept Germany from enduring consecutive losses at the start of a World Cup for the first time.

Spain’s next match is against Japan at Khalifa International Stadium, while Germany returns to Al Bayt Stadium to face Costa Rica.

COSTA RICA RALLIES LATE TO EKE PAST JAPAN

AL RAYYAN, QATAR Keysher Fuller scored in the 81st minute to lift Costa Rica to a 1-0 victory over Japan, leaving both teams with three points after two games in Group E of the World Cup. Fuller, who took advantage of a defensive error when Japan failed to clear in it end and hit the net from 18 meters just off the fingertips of leaping Japan goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda. The match at Ahmad Bin Ali stadium was tactical and largely lackluster, particularly in a first half that did not yield a single shot on goal. The second half was slightly better with Japan pressing throughout until Costa Rica broke through. Costa Rica keeper Keylor Navas came up with several rapid-fire saves in the final minutes to save the victory. Japan has one Group E game remaining with Spain. With a victory, Japan could have all but wrapped up a place in the knockout stage after a 2-1 upset of Germany in its opener. Costa Rica was pounded by Spain 7-0 in its first game and just trying to survive.

MOROCCO PULLS OFF ANOTHER UPSET, BEATS BELGIUM

DOHA Morocco pulled off another shock at the World Cup on Sunday, beating Belgium 2-0 to leave Kevin de Bruyne and the 2018 semi-finalists in peril of a group-stage exit. Substitute Abdelhamid Sabiri got one past Belgium goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois by whipping in a free kick from a tight angle at the near post in the 73rd minute for Morocco’s first goal. Zakaria Aboukhlal then guided a shot into the roof of the net off a pass from Hakim Ziyech in stoppage time. Belgium, ranked No. 2 in the world behind Brazil, had won its past seven group games at the World Cup. After the game, riots broke out in several Belgian and Dutch cities. Police detained about a dozen people after they deployed water cannons and fired tear gas to disperse crowds in Brussels. Dozens of rioters overturned and torched cars, set electric scooters on fire and pelted cars with bricks. Police moved in after one person suffered facial injuries. It was Morocco’s first win at a World Cup since 1998 and only its third ever. Belgium would have become the second team after defending champion France to qualify for the knockout stage if it had beaten the Moroccans. Belgium will next play 2018 finalist Croatia in its final group match.