The biggest sporting event in the world continues with the Group E Spain v Germany clash that was going to be the biggest match in Group E and arguably all of the groups, but is now even more important after first game results.
With so many games and so little time, our Group D France v Australia Match Centre tries to sum it all up as quickly as possible before and after the game and with just a hint of cynicism. If you wanted professional and/or good you’d be on the BBC website, not here. Essentially, we watch and follow the game so you don’t have to.
With answers to the key questions prior to the match and our Minutes that Mattered summary and stats post game, it is a real Who Cares guide to the 2022 World Cup for the person on the go.
Enjoy the Group E Spain v Germany Match Centre.
KICKOFF – SUNDAY 27TH NOV – 19:00 (QATAR) 16:00 (UK) 03:00 (AEDT)
Group E Spain v Germany Match Review
Match Summary
Minutes that Mattered
Welcome to the briefest of match summaries, like a minute by minute you find on professional websites except one that has only the minutes that matter. All wheat, no chaff.
And if the below isn’t enough, for those in Australia you can catch up via the SBS World Cup on Demand.
6′ Min Wow. What a first proper attack of the game. Spain had been teasing Germany for a little while, then Dani Olmo blasts a shot at goal from the edge of the box and somehow the German keeper Manuel Neuer keeps it out. He palms it onto the crossbar then onto the post and out.
10′ Min Germany have their first big attack of the game as they break from inside their own half. Spanish keeper Unai Simón saves the day, but it was all academic anyway due to offside.
15′ Min 15 minutes in and Spain have amassed a lazy 67% of the contested possession. Germany have 20%. If you like passing, hang around.
20′ Min Possibly bored of all the passing Jordi Alba has a shot from outside the box. It goes close to the post but no dice. It’s good to break up all the passing anyways.
24′ Min After the Spanish keeper provided the perfect pass to Gnabry on the edge of the box, the German forward has a crack and pushes it across the face. But at least Germany are having a crack when they get the ball.
26′ Min Another poor goalkeeper clearance down the other end gives Spain a chance, Ferran Torres’ shot is blocked by a German defender, but maybe this game is opening up a little.
32′ Min Ferran Torres looks to blow an easy goal. After Dani Olmo tears down the left, and for no good reason the German keeper is wildly out of position, Olmo crosses for Torres and with just a defender and recovering keeper coming back he puts the ball over the bar. Olmo was probably offside so that might make him feel better.
39 Min GOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR GERMANY
Against the run of play the Germans have taken the lead. From a free kick out wide and well outside the box, the cross comes in and is met by Antonio Rüdiger who buries the header into the net.
NOOOOOOOOOOO FOR GERMANY
The goal is ruled out for offside bu Rudiger. Just.
SPAIN 0 GERMANY 0
44′ Min Sergio Busquets gives away a free kick and earns himself a yellow card, handing Germany one last chance before half time. Again Antonio Rüdiger is involved and he has a shot at the near post that is saved after a juggle from the Spanish keeper.
HALF TIME – SPAIN 0 GERMANY 0
52′ Min Not much more happening to begin the second half as there was in the first half. Maybe in a few more hundred passes it’ll ramp up. Alvaro Morata has just entered the fray, so he might be the extra spark the game needs.
56 Min Big chance for Germany. Again the Spanish goal keeper is stuffing around with the ball and again Germany end up with it close to goal. Joshua Kimmich has the shot and it is blocked by a defender and a further save from Simon was required. Simon looks to be Germany’s best provider of chances right now, and is nailed to provide them with an assist.
62′ Min GOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLL FOR SPAIN
Spain attack down the left through Olmo and Jordi Alba with the latter providing a flat cross into the box and Alvaro Morata meets it first with little pressure and beats the keeper for the match’s first goal.
SPAIN 1 GERMANY 0
72′ Min Big moments for Germany’s Jamal Musiala. First of all he launches an attack down the right and puts Germany on the front foot for a change. Then moments later is presented with a golden chance in front of goal and hits it straight at the keeper. If Germany are to equalise, it has to come through Jamal Musiala.
79′ Min Free kick to Germany right on the edge of the penalty area. The fre kick is a little dubious as the German attacker simply runs into the Spanish defender and falls over. That’s football aka soccer for you we guess. The free kick goes into the wall and out for a corner. The corner is only just less mediocre and Germany remain scoreless.
81′ Min GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLL FOR GERMANY
Germany make a charge down the right, an inside pass finds Jamal Musiala who twists and turn and passes onto Niclas Füllkrug who takes on the keeper who can only flap his arms a little as the ball is blasted past him into goal.
SPAIN 1 GERMANY 1
90′ Min Six minutes of added time to go. Germany look to have closed the shop abd are happy with the draw. Spain too, will probably be happy for the point too. Everyone wins.
X’ Min One last chance for Germany with a late corner. Spanish keeper Simon takes it well and that is that. A draw that keeps everyone happy in Group E.
Final Score
SPAIN 1
Alvaro Morata 62′
GERMANY 1
Niclas Füllkrug 81′
HT 0-0
Player of the Match
Dani Olmo or Jamal Musiala
Points of Interest
- Germany look sort of done as a footballing super power. Sure losing to Spain isn’t the worst thing in football, but the Germans looked pretty toothless throughout the game, and not forgetting they were beaten by Japan in game one.
- Spanish keep Simon seems to like cutting it fine with getting rid of the ball in his penalty area. Keeping the passing theme is all well and good, but we can see in a big game ahead the keeper’s luck running out and costing Spain a win somewhere.
Group E Spain v Germany Match Stats
Coming soon.
Group E Spain v Germany Starting Teams
SPAIN (4-3-3)
23 Simón
20 Carvajal
16 Rodri
24 Laporte
18 Alba
9 Gavi
5 Busquets
26 Pedri
11 F Torres
10 Asensio
21 Olmo
GERMANY (4-2-3-1)
1 Neuer
5 Kehrer
15 Süle
2 Rüdiger
3 Raum
6 Kimmich
8 Goretzka
10 Gnabry
21 Gündogan
14 Musiala
13 Müller
Group E Spain v Germany Match Preview
Why should you care?
Because before the World Cup kicked off this was probably the biggest group stage match, now with the results from the first games, this game is even more important.
Basically, Germany need to win this game, or match the 7-0 thrashing of Costa Rica if they draw. And if you saw Germany against Japan you’ll know they don’t have seven goals in them. And Costs Rica are no Brazil (in reference to that 2014 World Cup hammering).
So no pressure then Germany. It’ll only be a second consecutive exit at the group stage, and then you are heading down the “rebuilding phase” of your international football journey.
Happy days for Spain after their flogging of Costa Rica, as a draw here will do, then make sure they beat Japan, and even a draw there will see them through. We guess there should be rewards for a team that win by seven goals.
Who should you care about?
These are two teams that are truly a sum of parts rather than individuals. The teams work as a unit more than an Messi inspired Argentina or a Jackson Irvine inspired Australia.
So it’s all about watching the teams rather than the players. You’ll get to see most of the Spanish team, as they pass the ball relentlessly all over the field.
Full 2022 World Cup Squads & Stats
Is there a barely interesting fact?
The home side hasn’t won in this fixture for the last six matches. So since both teams are effectively away, that means neither team can win.
Spain (W1 D1) are undefeated in World Cup games v Germany.
Germany (W2 D1) are undefeated v European nations in the group stage at World Cups. Spain have played eight such games and their record is W5 D1 L2.
Who will win?
Spain 0 Germany 0
Full 2022 World Cup Predictions
