Alkhor: Instead of poetry and football, Albayt Stadium witnessed a clash of strategies. While Spain, playing promising football, filled the pitch with tiki-taka agility, experience and defense came to Germany’s rescue. As in an even four-way match, when all obstacles have been overcome, both teams scored one goal each and remained level.
The substitutes scored for both teams. Alvaro Morata scored for Spain in the 62nd minute and Niklas Fulkrug scored for Germany in the 83rd minute. Spain leads Group E with 4 points. Japan and Costa Rica follow with 3 points each. Germany is in last place with just one point.
It was the substitutes that rocked the net
After the break, manager Luis Enrique’s decision to drop striker Ferran Torres and bring in Alvaro Morata paved the way for Spain’s goal. This was after captain Sergio Busquets started from halfway.
Morata’s right foot, advanced on an assist from Jordi Alba from the left wing, surpasses the German goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and scores (1-0). After conceding, the match turned exciting as Germany began to fight back with all their might.
The young Jamal Musiyala was the engine behind their continuous creation of possibilities. Musiyala also provided the assist for German substitute Niklas Fulkrug’s goal in the 83rd minute. After receiving the ball in the center of the area, Fulkrug’s right foot scored a goal for the Germans (1-1).
Spain in reserve
In the 60th minute, Spain narrowly escaped goalkeeper Unai Simon’s mistake. German midfielder Joshua Kimmich’s shot, missed by the goalkeeper, was deflected by Simone himself. In the first half, Serge Gnabry also squandered the opportunity obtained after a similar mistake by Simeone. Unhurried and starting with tricks of tiki taka, Spain dominated possession from the start.
They patrolled the German goal with short passes and should have taken the lead in the seventh minute. Striker Dani Olmo’s shot from outside the box deflected off goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and hit the post. With Spanish advances coming from all directions, the German defense had a hard job to do.
In the 40th minute, after a free kick, Antonio Rudiger’s header shook the Spanish goal but was declared offside by the VAR. Spanish goalkeeper Simeone saved Rudiger’s threat from a Joshua Kimmich free-kick in the closing seconds of the first half.
Summary in english: germany vs spain match fifa world cup 2022
