Germany vs spain

Match in brief For 16 first-half minutes, the visitors were on course for the draw they needed to reach the finals on the night that Manuel Neuer broke the appearances record for a Germany goalkeeper. Reaching that landmark would be the only solace Neuer could take. Álvaro Morata opening the scoring with a powerful header from a corner before Torres half-volleyed his first and Rodri put Spain 3-0 up. Any hopes Joachim Löw's side had of a comeback were all but ended when Torres completed a slick counterattack ten minutes into the second half before firing a clinical fifth. Mikel Oyarzabal added a close-range sixth. Morata put Spain en route to the Nations League final four Graham Hunter, Spain reporter First of all, this could have been a victory of a much wider, perhaps record, margin. Spain were that good. Secondly, this qualifies La Roja for the one senior knockout tournament they’ve yet to win – the UEFA Nations League. That’s big. But the performance was molten gold. The hosts knew what nerveless, error-free football was about and beyond sealing the deal with that vital fourth goal they played with panache, brio and were fantasticaly entertaining. Steffen Potter, Germany reporter I can't help feeling that another tactical approach might have been better for Germany. When they hosted Spain in Stuttgart in September, they attacked La Roja all over the pitch. It was far from perfect and left gaps for Luis Enrique's team to exploit, but that was the case for both sides, as...

Germany's hopes of reaching the knockout phase had been given an unlikely lifeline earlier on Sunday when Costa Rica beat Japan when any other result would have meant defeat by Spain would send them out. Hansi Flick's side still need to defeat Costa Rica in their final Group E game and hope Japan do not spring a shock against Spain but at least they know their hopes of moving into the last 16 are intact after falling behind at Al Bayt Stadium. Spain, who almost went ahead in the first half when keeper Manuel Neuer turned Dani Olmo's shot on to the bar, took the lead after 62 minutes when substitute Alvaro Morata applied a brilliant near-post flick to Jordi Alba's cross. Germany pressed forward and Fullkrug gave them a point seven minutes from the end when he burst through and lashed an unstoppable finish high past Spain keeper Unai Simon. Leroy Sane almost won it for Germany in the dying seconds but ran out of space as he raced through on goal and the ball was scrambled clear. • Wildcard Fullkrug comes up trumps for Germany • Reaction to Spain 1-1 Germany • Fifa World Cup: Groups and schedule • World Cup TV coverage guide Impressive Spain a threat Morata gives Spain the lead against Germany Manager Luis Enrique has pieced together an impressive blend of youth and experience as Spain seek to reclaim the World Cup crown they won in 2010. He has the youthful brilliance of 18-year-old Gavi and Pedri, just 20, but also the old hand who has seen it all in the shape of Sergio Bus...

facebook twitter reddit link While the result might have left both sides wanting, and perhaps regretting opportunities missed, there is no denying the quality of play. Even more interesting, the result kept things murky for both team's hopes of advancing to the knockout stage, as Spain would have clinched a spot with a win, and would have eliminated Germany in the process. DaMarcus Beasley: I just thought it was a fair result. I just enjoyed watching this brand of football. When I played, I always liked to have the ball on the ground. You didn't see too many long passes, too many players just kicking the ball out for no reason. That's not what I like. Yes, they're two different teams and how they play. Spain, like Sacha said, they'll just pass, pass, pass trying to create space for others and themselves. Germany is more of a counterattack. They like to hit you on the break, but with pace and with speed, and precision. It's just a really good game of football. I thought this was a fair result. I thought Germany got what they deserved in the tying goal, and it was a fun game to watch. Jimmy Conrad: Given how both of these teams played in this game, I kind of hope that they both advance into the round of 16 just because of what they're capable of even if they do have an off day, like Germany did against Japan on match Day 1. Now, my big takeaway is that having a real striker is greater than the old false nine where you don't have a real striker. We saw both teams make a sub. ...