Qatar: Niclas Fullkrug came off the bench to rescue a point for Germany as the four-time champions snatched a 1-1 draw with Spain in a crunch World Cup Group E game on Sunday. Only a win for Germany in the final group game will give the four-time World Cup champions a chance to avoid a second straight early elimination.
It was a night to remember for the substitutes as Alvaro Morata had opened the scoring for Spain after coming on early in the second-half.
Germany then launched their reply in the form of Fullkrug, who smashed home from close range to give the game a tense finish. Substitute Niclas Füllkrug scored in the 83rd minute Sunday to give Germany a 1-1 draw against Spain at Al Bayt Stadium in one of the most anticipated matches of this year’s World Cup. A loss would not have eliminated Germany, but it would have left the team in a much more difficult position.
Fullkrug, who has been in top form for Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga, made his mark to keep Germany’s Round of 16 hopes alive. Germany had a chance to seal all three points but Leroy Sane failed to find the back of the net after being played behind Spain’s backline.
Germany’s fate will be decided on Thursday against Costa Rica, which defeated Japan 1-0 earlier Sunday. Even a win may not be enough for the Germans, who lost to Japan in their opener and are in last place in Group E. They need the other result to go their way.
If both Germany and Spain win, both will advance. If there is a draw in the Japan-Spain match, Germany will need to overcome a goal-difference deficit against the Japanese. If Japan is victorious, then the Germans will have to top Spain — which beat Costa Rica 7-0 — on goal difference to get through.
