Four-time winners Germany have been knocked out of the FIFA World Cup at the group stages for a second consecutive tournament.
Hansi Flick’s men were expected to put in a much improved performance four years on from their disastrous campaign as champions in 2018, but things got off to a disastrous start with a shock loss to Japan. Germany had led the game, but were pegged back through two late goals thanks to some great substitutions and rather terrible defending from Niklas Sule.
They would put in a much-improved performance in their second game against Spain, drawing 1-1 thanks to a goal from Bundesliga journeyman Niclas Fullkrug.
FIFA announced the FIRST all-women referee team for a men’s World Cup match 🙌
The trio will make history during the Costa Rica-Germany match on Thursday. #ThatsaW pic.twitter.com/ucIBRxVRn5
— ESPN (@espn) November 30, 2022
Stéphanie Frappart, Neuza Back and Karen Diaz will become the first all-female refereeing team in men’s World Cup history when Costa Rica face Germany 👏 pic.twitter.com/LZrWhTdIr4
— B/R Football (@brfootball) December 1, 2022
