And conscionable erstwhile you thought we achieved highest chaos astatine the World Cup connected Wednesday, we had adjacent ups and downs connected Thursday. All 4 teams from Group E -- Costa Rica, Germany, Japan, and Spain -- were astatine immoderate constituent either done to the circular of 16 oregon outright eliminated.
Be definite to cheque successful with ESPN passim the tourney arsenic we bring you the latest from Qatar. Here's what you mightiness person missed from Thursday's World Cup happenings, and a look up to what's adjacent connected Friday.
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Group E chaos: Japan, Spain in; Germany faces re-boot
At halftime of some of Thursday's precocious matches, it seemed arsenic though 1 of the World Cup's much intriguing groups would autumn successful enactment arsenic predicted: erstwhile winners Spain and Germany would advance, portion Japan and Costa Rica would spell home.
By the clip the last whistles blew, it was Japan topping Group E aft beating Spain, with Germany (yes, the squad with 4 World Cup trophies) joining Costa Rica connected the extracurricular looking in.
Spain initially were successful power against Japan aft Alvaro Morata's aboriginal goal, with Germany besides cruising implicit Costa Rica acknowledgment to Serge Gnabry's 10th-minute score. But arsenic we should ever expect astatine these tournaments, tables were turned, the scripts were flipped, and chaos ensued.
Both Costa Rica and Japan came retired each of their locker rooms aft halftime connected fire, with each broadside scoring 2 goals successful their respective games, and each of abrupt it was each up for grabs. For a little spell of 2 minutes, 55 seconds, adjacent Costa Rica -- who had mislaid 7-0 to Spain but past rebounded to decision Japan -- were successful the driver's spot to qualify.
When the particulate settled, it was Japan -- aided by a arguable VAR determination -- who were radical winners aft holding disconnected Spain 2-1. Germany rallied past Costa Rica 4-2 but it wasn't capable to flooded Spain's superior extremity difference.
What astir that Japan goal?
Of peculiar enactment was Japan's 2nd and yet decisive goal. In the 51st minute, Ao Tanaka buried the shot into the nett aft Kaoru Mitoma chopped it backmost from the goal-line. Initially ruled implicit the enactment erstwhile the assistant's emblem went up, VAR decided that the shot hadn't afloat crossed implicit and remained successful play.
Can you spot it? Not convinced? Delve into the details implicit the VAR determination here, oregon cheque retired ESPN's rules adept extraordinaire Dale Johnson arsenic breaks down the extremity that besides yet sealed Germany's World Cup fate.
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ESPN FC's Dale Johnson explains wherefore VAR chose not to disallow Japan's 2nd extremity against Spain.
End of epoch for Germany?
Technically Germany did what it needed to do. They bushed Costa Rica contempt concisely trailing against Los Ticos in the 2nd fractional acknowledgment to Kai Havertz's brace and a precocious onslaught by Niclas Fullkrug. But that arguable extremity by Japan proved costly, arsenic did Spain's extremity quality from their large triumph implicit Costa Rica past week.
It's a bitter mode to exit the World Cup stage, particularly for a accepted powerhouse specified arsenic Germany. After winning the 2014 World Cup, it is 2 consecutive exits astatine the radical signifier for the four-time winners.
The effect is apt to pb to a large overhaul successful German soccer, with manager Hansi Flick's presumption arsenic manager present vulnerable. Long-serving players specified arsenic Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, Mario Gotze and Ilkay Gundogan besides mightiness person travel to the extremity of the enactment connected the planetary stage.
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ESPN FC's Archie Rhind-Tutt labels Germany's World Cup exit arsenic a debacle.
Today's apical reads
Ziyech, En-Nesyri assistance occurrence Morocco into circular of 16
Morocco's triumph that enactment them into the World Cup circular of 16 arsenic Group F winners was kickstarted by an unfortunate mistake that led to the opening goal.
Croatia support Belgium's aureate procreation trophy-less
Croatia, World Cup runners-up successful 2018, enactment live and nonstop a star-studded but disappointing Belgium broadside home.
World Cup's missing men: What are Salah, Haaland, Benzema doing?
Whether owed to not qualifying oregon injury, immoderate of the sport's biggest names are inactive staying engaged (or relaxing).
Your champion bets (odds via Caesars Sportsbook)
If you're looking to stake connected the World Cup, ESPN contributors Paul Carr, Dan Thomas and Dalen Cuff are present to springiness you cardinal tips on odds, options and futures. Here's what we person for the Friday's matches.
Group G: Cameroon (+750) vs. Brazil (-275), Draw (+375)
Dalen Cuff: If it ain't broke, don't hole it. I'm looking to currency this for a 3rd time. Brazil volition predominate the shot and this game. Take A Seleção to triumph to nil (+114).
Paul Carr: Through 2 radical games, Brazil had allowed lone 11 shots and 0.5 expected goals, some among the 3 champion defenses successful the tournament. I person lineup concerns present too, though little truthful fixed Brazil's depth. I similar the triumph to nil stake a lot. I conscionable privation to spot who is starting first.
Daniel Thomas: Brazil person been the champion squad of the tourney truthful far. Even if they remainder cardinal players, they are inactive overwhelmed with quality. I'd spell Brazil to triumph 3-0.
Group G: Serbia (+150) vs. Switzerland (+180), Draw (+230)
Cuff: The Swiss apt volition request a gully to advance. They are a resolute antiaircraft radical and Yann Sommer is 1 of the champion goalies successful the world. Serbia has been each implicit the spot successful this tournament, and they request each 3 points to advance. I deliberation the Swiss negociate this crippled good and get the gully they request (+225).
Carr: Switzerland lone needs a gully to advance, assuming Cameroon does not bushed Brazil, and they are a seasoned squad that simply bash what is necessary. They went unbeaten successful qualifying, outscoring opponents 15-2 and grinding retired draws of 1-1 and 0-0 with Italy. Serbia's onslaught isn't rather clicking (2.1 expected goals done 2 games) and Switzerland volition proceed that inclination successful a low-scoring game. Give maine nether 2.5 goals astatine -130.
Thomas: Take the nether successful goals. This is not going to beryllium a amusive 1 to watch.
Group H: Ghana (+390) vs. Uruguay (-140), Draw (+300)
Cuff: Ghana's matches person been entertaining acknowledgment to their quality to enactment the shot successful the nett (5 goals scored) but besides their penchant to beryllium scored upon (5 goals conceded). The Black Stars tin apt beforehand with conscionable a gully (assuming South Korea doesn't bushed Portugal), portion Uruguay has to triumph to person immoderate chance. Uruguay has been unlucky, hitting the barroom 3 times successful 2 games. I deliberation they volition capitalize connected opportunities, pressing from the kickoff. The Black Stars whitethorn get connected the committee arsenic well. That's wherefore I similar implicit 2.5 goals astatine -105.
Carr: I'm connected a akin page, successful that Uruguay should person a extremity oregon 2 already, fixed their 1.9 expected goals. Plus, some of Ghana's games person had plentifulness of chances, with each squad getting astatine slightest 1.0 expected goals successful each game. I'll instrumentality some teams to people astatine -110.
Thomas: I similar Ghana here. They are a large worth astatine +390. Uruguay has not impressed astatine each truthful far.
Group H: South Korea (+375) vs Portugal (-150), Draw (+300)
Cuff: South Korea has to triumph and generated a batch of chances against Ghana. The lineup for already-qualified Portugal volition beryllium interesting. I'm not definite I'm going to play this crippled and volition decidedly hold to spot the starting 11. If it's chiefly the radical that has led Portugal to wins successful this group, I similar some teams to people (-115).
Carr: After what happened to France's sub-optimal lineup connected Wednesday, I'm not touching this crippled until I spot Portugal's starters.
Thomas: I besides similar some teams to score, and I deliberation this is going to beryllium a thoroughly entertaining affair.
News and notes
United States midfielder Christian Pulisic said connected Thursday he'll "do everything successful my power" to play successful Saturday's World Cup round-of-16 lucifer against the Netherlands. Pulisic's authoritative presumption remains day-to-day with a pelvic contusion, according to a U.S. Soccer Federation spokesperson.
Brazil shot fable Pele was diagnosed with bronchopneumonia aft caller tests connected Thursday astatine a Sao Paulo hospital, sources told ESPN Brasil. The three-time World Cup victor was initially hospitalised connected Tuesday to modulate the medicine successful his combat against a colon tumor, his girl Kely Nascimento said. She added that determination was "no emergency'' concerning her 82-year-old father's health.
Mexico's nationalist teams manager Jaime Ordiales said helium feels "professional embarrassment" for the nationalist team's aboriginal exit from the radical signifier of the 2022 World Cup and promised a rebuild for the adjacent World Cup cycle. It was Mexico's worst World Cup showing successful 40 years, and El Tri had precocious past the archetypal circular successful the erstwhile 7 consecutive World Cups.
Merritt Paulson announced his volition to merchantability the NWSL nine Portland Thorns amid ongoing unit since allegations of intersexual harassment and coercion were made against erstwhile Thorns manager Paul Riley, for which helium was fired for origin successful 2015. That unit -- from some fans and sponsors -- accrued pursuing the merchandise of the Yates Report, which elaborate systemic intersexual and affectional maltreatment passim the league. Paulson, who besides owns the Portland Timbers, does not mean to merchantability the MLS club.
What other caught our eye
Fans successful Morocco are celebrating successful afloat unit aft finishing undefeated Group F, mounting up a tantalizing circular of 16 matchup with neighbors Spain.
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Tom Hamilton reports from downtown Doha arsenic Morocco fans instrumentality to the streets to observe their country's triumph implicit Canada astatine the World Cup.
It's a rematch of a 2018 World Cup radical signifier thriller betwixt La Roja and the Atlas Lions, which ended successful a 2-2 draw. Who'll get the bragging rights this clip around?
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ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti defends Morocco aft Spain decorativeness 2nd successful their radical and look them successful the circular of 16.
Matches connected pat for Friday
Group H: South Korea vs. Portugal (Education City Stadium, 10 a.m. ET)
All Portugal request to bash is enactment steadfast and debar humiliation to advance, portion South Korea could usage a spark from Son Heung-Min successful bid to person a accidental of going through. Will we spot Cristiano Ronaldo, oregon volition helium beryllium rested?
Group H: Ghana vs. Uruguay (Al Janoub Stadium, 10 a.m. ET)
This seismic grudge lucifer -- retrieve Luis Suarez's handball arsenic Uruguay knocked the Black Stars retired of the 2010 World Cup -- has a batch connected the enactment arsenic some could advance. Ghana spell done with a triumph oregon a gully (if South Korea lose), portion Uruguay indispensable triumph (and South Korea lose) to person a accidental of progressing. Skip immoderate meetings to tune in.
Group G: Serbia vs. Switzerland (Stadium 974, 2 p.m. ET)
There's a batch of hostility present after their tempestuous gathering astatine the 2018 World Cup, but triumph for either broadside secures a circular of 16 spot.
Group G: Cameroon vs. Brazil (Lusail Iconic Stadium, 2 p.m. ET)
It's improbable that Brazil lose, but considering the chaos successful some Groups C and E this week means virtually anything's possible. A Cameroon triumph with immoderate assistance from Serbia/Switzerland would enactment them successful the circular of 16.
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