Despite defeating Costa Rica this evening, Germany have been knocked out of the World Cup.
They went into the fixture feeling that a win likely would have been enough to go through, although they would need Spain not to lose to Japan in the other group.
Unfortunately for them, that would not be the case.
Germany were completely dominant in the first half, with Costa Rica barely mounting an attack. When Serge Gnabry gave them the lead early in the first half, it only seemed a matter of how they would win by.
However, the game was turned on its head after the interval.
Two goals in the space of ten minutes would give Costa Rica the lead and put Germany on the verge of going out.
🇨🇷 2-1 🇩🇪
Costa Rica lead!
📺 Watch now on @rte2 & @rteplayer : https://t.co/Sfewj1uiKd
📱 Live Updates: https://t.co/R0LUZaL35b#COSGER #FIFAWorldCup #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/mbTPGqYTca— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 1, 2022
Germany would bounce back from that point, going on to win 4-2.
However, Japan's 2-1 win in the other game would ensure that they would be knocked out on goal difference.
Their winning strike was a controversial one. It looked as though the ball had crossed the end line in the buildup to the goal, with the referee initially adjudging that it was out.
However, VAR soon intervened and said the goal should stand. It was certainly a close call.
GOAL - JAPAN 🇯🇵 - 51'
Did the ball go over the end line?
Incredible, Japan have the lead!
📺 Watch live now on @rtenews & @rteplayer: https://t.co/d4r720hpin
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/63tJ03ZBuS#JPNESP #FIFAWorldCup #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/29xoKq87vg— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 1, 2022
This proved to be the difference in Japan going through, with Germany heading home instead.
This is the buildup to the goal that gave Japan the lead. How close was that? 😳 #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/mkxD8V1hZy
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) December 1, 2022
Didi Hamann dumbfounded by Japan decision
Didi Hamann was magnanimous on RTÉ after the game, saying his native Germany had not done enough over the course of the three games. However, he was surprised to see the Japanese goal stand.
Full-time: Japan 🇯🇵 2-1 Spain 🇪🇸
Dietmar Hamann has his say on VAR, and he's not certain that it has helped the game
📺 Watch live now on @RTE2 & @rteplayer: https://t.co/2W5kFubRRc
📱 Live updates: https://t.co/63tJ03I06i#JPNESP #FIFAWorldCup #RTESoccer pic.twitter.com/iNG4SHD6pD— RTÉ Soccer (@RTEsoccer) December 1, 2022
We need to know what was shown to the video assistant. I think there is too much green there. Sometimes the ball can be over the line, but part of it is on the line. There is so much green here, I think this ball is out.
This is what I don't understand with video technology. In American Football, if there is doubt you can't overrule a decision, the ruling on the field stands.
This ball was given out. For me, when the video assistant looks at this with the naked eye, he has got to be 100 per cent certain that this ball was in play to give the ball.
Can you tell me 100 per cent certain that this ball was not over the line? If there is any doubt whatsoever, I think the ruling on the field should stand...
You've got to say, over the three games Japan deserved the bit of luck. But I think the ball should have been given out...
We've got to get the big decisions right. I can understand when a referee makes a mistake, but I can't understand when somebody in front of the monitor looks at it, sees a replay five or six times, and still makes a wrong decision.
I said five or six years ago when it was brought in that it was never going to work, I stand by it. I think we gained very little and lost a lot.
It was odd to see the initial decision overturned, with the pictures we were shown not giving any definitive proof that the ball was in play.
The call was certainly a costly one for Germany, who have been knocked out of the group stages of the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament.
SEE ALSO: Didi Hamann Couldn't Resist A Dig At Damien Duff Over His Only World Cup Goal
