Füllkrug salvó los muebles para Alemania / Germany salvages 1-1 draw with Spain at World Cup

Al Khor (Catar).- Un gol de Niclas Füllkrug en el minuto 83 niveló el de Álvaro Morata en el 62 y supuso el empate entre España y Alemania en el partido correspondiente a la segunda jornada del grupo E del Mundial Qatar 2022 que les enfrentó este domingo en el estadio Al Bayt de la localidad de Al Khor.

Morata había adelantado a España al rematar un centro desde la izquierda de Jordi Alba; mientras que Füllkrug, que había entrado al terreno de juego en sustitución de Thomas Müller trece minutos antes, colocó el definitivo empate a un gol tras aprovechar un servicio de Jamal Musiala.

A España, que lidera el grupo con cuatro puntos, le bastaría un empate el jueves ante Japón para clasificarse. Los nipones suman tres puntos, los mismos que Costa Rica, en un grupo en el que todos dependen aún de sí mismos, y que cierra Alemania con una unidad.

EFE

Germany salvages 1-1 draw with Spain at World Cup

AL KHOR, Qatar (AP) — Germany forward Niclas Füllkrug 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 pre-tournament 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 Álvaro Morata found the net in the 62nd minute with a nice one-touch 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 Füllkrug 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.

WHAT’S NEXT

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

by: TALES AZZONI, Associated Press