One of the most anticipated group games at the 2022 World Cup went down to the wire and was decided by two substitute strikers.
Álvaro Morata came off the bench as a second-half reserve and promptly delivered a 62nd-minute goal to fire Spain in front of Germany in their second Group E game in Qatar, only for a German substitute, Niclas Füllkrug, to answer with one of his own 20 minutes later. The two teams settled for a 1–1 draw, which suits both in their respective quests to reach the knockout stage.
Germany’s loss to Japan in their opening game meant Die Mannschaft came into this one against a fellow European power and World Cup winner desperately needing to bounce back in some facet. That was a difficult ask after Spain announced its presence in Qatar by thrashing Costa Rica, 7–0, in their group opener. Costa Rica did Germany a bit of a solid by beating Japan earlier in the day, though, meaning a defeat to Spain wouldn’t have spelled the end for Germany at the World Cup.
While Spain entered on the heels of one rout, Germany didn’t need to be reminded of La Furia Roja's capabilities. In their last meeting, just over two years ago in the UEFA Nations League, Spain thrashed Germany 6–0. Recent history in the rivalry hasn’t been kind to Germany at all, actually. It now has just one win over Spain in eight meetings dating back to 2003, it coming in a 2014 friendly. In their previous meeting in a competitive setting before the Nations League demolition, Spain won 1–0 in the 2010 World Cup semifinals, en route to winning it all (Germany would go on to win four years later).
Germany spent the opening few minutes chasing Spain, as Luis Enrique’s side, as it’s known to do, bossed the possession and patiently passed around while looking to methodically move its way down the field.
Its most incisive early moment came in the fifth minute, when Ferran Torres astutely picked out Marco Asensio at the top of the Germany box, but his touch didn’t allow him to settle and shoot, and Germany cleared the danger.
The pressure kept coming from Spain, and in the seventh minute, Dani Olmo rattled the crossbar with a blistering shot that Manuel Neuer got a hand to and directed off the woodwork.
Spain goalkeeper Unai Simón was called upon for the first time at the 10-minute mark. Leon Goretzka led a one-man counterattack, surging down the center of the field before picking out Serge Gnabry to his right. Simón raced out to cut Gnabry—who may have been offside—off and cut out the threat.
The next close call came in the 22nd minute courtesy of Jordi Alba. The Barcelona left back was given the time and space to line up a blast from 25 yards, and he didn’t miss by much, hooking it just wide of the left post.
Germany struck right back with a close call in the 25th, thanks to a gift from Simón. The goalkeeper casually tried to play it out of the back, but he passed it right to Gnabry, who in turn fired right back at goal but couldn’t hook his chance enough to tuck it inside the far post.
It then was Neuer’s turn to pass directly to an opponent out of the back, and Spain turned it immediately into a half-chance, with only a recovery challenge from David Raum preventing Torres from having a clear look.
Germany thought it had taken the lead in the 40th minute. Off service from a free kick on the right side, defender Antonio Rüdiger charged forward and powered home a header that beat Simón. He was ruled to be just offside, however, which took the goal off the board and kept the match scoreless.
Simón made a sensational save on the first true chance of the second half. At the 56-minute mark, Joshua Kimmich tried to side-foot home a straightaway chance from the top of the box, but the Spanish keeper was equal to it, diving to his ride and pushing it to safety.
The opener finally came in the 62nd minute, and it was Alvaro Morata delivering the goods. Jordi Alba served in a perfect cross from the left, and Morata redirected it home perfectly to beat Neuer and give Spain a 1-0 lead.
Simon preserved that lead in the 73rd minute, when a smart sequence allowed Jamal Musiala to have a clear look from close range, only for the goalkeeper to block the chance with the inside of his bicep.
Simon couldn’t keep Germany out forever, though. Werder Bremen’s Füllkrug, like Morata a substitute, delivered a powerful 83rd-minute finish to bring Germany level.
Neither side could find a winner, splitting the point and sending Group E down to its final day with plenty of permutations still in play. Spain sits atop the quartet with four points, followed by Japan and Costa Rica with three and Germany with one. Spain faces Japan in the finale, while Costa Rica meets Germany, all still with hopes of advancing.
