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The keys to Costa Rica's victory 1:00
(CNN Spanish) --
Costa Rica reaches the final match of the group stage with the possibility of advancing to the round of 16 of the World Cup in Qatar, even after the debut against Spain in which they were defeated with a 7-0 win.
The Ticos achieved a 1-0 victory in their match against Japan last Sunday, which allowed them to keep alive the illusion of qualifying for the next phase of the World Cup.
This Thursday, in the last day of Date 3 of Group E, Costa Rica will face Germany, while Spain will face Japan.
Why are Costa Ricans called 'the Ticos'?
So far, La Roja is the group leader with 4 points after their win against Costa Rica and a draw against Germany, followed by Japan and Costa Rica with 3 points each (in that order by goal difference, a criterion in which the Central American nation was especially badly placed after the game against Spain).
Germany closes the Group E table with one point, which they unexpectedly lost to Japan in their own World Cup debut.
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What does Costa Rica need to advance to the round of 16?
There are two scenarios in which the Ticos would advance to the next round:
If they beat Germany this Thursday
, they will secure the ticket to the round of 16 regardless of what happens between Spain and Japan, since they would be left with 6 points and that would ensure first or second place in the table.
If they draw against Germany and Spain beat Japan
, they would also go through, in this case in second place, since they would be left with 4 points and the team led by Luis Enrique with 7.
A tie is not useful for Costa Rica if Spain and Japan tie, because in that case they would be left with the same points as the Japanese but would lose due to goal difference, and a victory for Japan is not useful either.
If the Costa Ricans lose, they are eliminated regardless of what happens in the other match.
What does Spain need to reach the round of 16 in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar?
What crosses and rivals can touch him?
This Thursday's day is the penultimate of the group stage in Qatar.
The following day, Friday, the final matches of groups G and H will be played and from Saturday the round of 16 will be played.
Keysher Fuller celebrates after scoring Costa Rica's goal against Japan on Sunday, November 27.
(Credit: Raúl Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images)
What crosses and rivals can touch him?
With the current scenario, the Costa Rican team still has a chance of qualifying first or second in the group, a position that would determine who their rival is in the round of 16.
The next phase will pit the two teams with the best results from Group E against their namesakes from Group F, which includes Belgium, Canada, Morocco and Croatia.
Canada, which does not accumulate any points, is already disqualified from the World Cup, so it is not a possible opponent.
Among the rest of the teams the dispute is still open, so Costa Rica could meet Belgium, Morocco or Croatia in the round of 16.
So far the advantage in that group is held by Croatia and Morocco with 4 points each, followed by Belgium with 3.
In the event that Costa Rica passed and did so as first in their group, they would play against the second in Group F on Monday, December 5.
If he advanced as second, the round of 16 match would be his turn on Tuesday, December 6 with the second in Group F.
World CupCosta Rica team