Almighty Germany and great Belgium have all left the World Cup group stage. Belgium was so superb until the last minute when Lukaku lost a very crucial goal that could have sent his country to the knockout stage.
Belgium has failed to progress to the knockout stages of a World Cup tournament for the first time since 1998. After failing to reach the knockout stages in three consecutive participations (2002, 2006, 2014), Croatia has now progressed from its group at consecutive editions (2018, 2022). Belgium scored one goal at this World Cup – in 19 previous participations at major tournaments (World Cup + Euros), they have only scored fewer goals once (1930 World Cup – 0).
What a hard blow to take in.
Germany were really making a wave but were later eliminated since Spain decided to be wasteful and not score a goal to keep them alive. What happened tonight means Germany has been eliminated from the group stages at consecutive World Cups (also 2018), after they had progressed from the first round group stage in each of their 16 previous such appearances at the tournament. Germany have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 12 matches at major tournaments (World Cups + Euros), further extending their longest such streak. Costa Rica have scored more World Cup goals against Germany (4) than they have versus any other side, surpassing the three they’d scored against Uruguay in 2014. At the other end, against no side have they shipped more goals at the World Cup than they have versus Germany (8 – level with Brazil).
The World Cup has really been a shocker for real and we hope and expect more to come.