The 2022 FIFA World Cup certainly hasn't disappointed, and matchday three has had plenty of chaotic and exciting scenes for fans and neutrals alike.
In the case of Group E, all four teams - Spain, Germany, Costa Rica and Japan - were all in the running for a round of 16 berth. Die Mannschaft found themselves last in their group after suffering a shock 2-1 loss to Japan, but had given themselves a life line after drawing Spain 1-1.
However, it meant that Hansi Flick's men absolutely needed to win their final group stage game - and hope that Spain did them a huge favor - in order to qualify for the round of 16. There was a certain urgency about the German side, as they were eliminated during the group stages four years ago, and were keen on making sure that did not have for the second consecutive time.
Yet, despite a 4-2 win over Costa Rica, during which Serge Gnabry and Niclas Füllkrug scored one each on either side of a Kai Havertz brace, it wasn't enough for the four-time World Cup champions. Japan managed to pull off yet another major upset, beating Spain 2-1, meaning that die Mannschaft bowed out at the group stages at the World Cup for the second time in a row.
And in doing so, the European giants set some rather unpleasant records, as can be seen here:
2 – Germany have failed to get past the group stage at each of the last two World Cups, after they had made it past the first round in each of the previous 16 tournaments since 1954. AufWiedersehen. #CRCGER #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/9yQiJD71zg
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 1, 2022
However, it is not all doom and gloom, as there were some positives from Germany's win:
2- Kai Havertz is the second German player to score a brace as a sub at the World Cup after Andre Schürrle in 2014 vs Brazil. Impact. #CRCGER #FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/o2xnFG03xa
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 1, 2022
12 - Jamal Musiala completed 12 dribbles against Costa Rica, the most on record for a teenager in World Cup history (1966 onwards). Labryinth. pic.twitter.com/EqmwfWIqKA
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 1, 2022