World Cup: Germany and Croatia breathe, Belgium cracks ... What to remember from November 27

The day after the first qualification in the eighth in this World Cup, tinged with a bright blue, four posters were on the program for group E and F on Sunday.

Without a new ticket awarded for the knockout stage, but with several outstanding results.

The relief: Germany is still breathing

At the end of a first day with diametrically opposed fates - disconcerting defeat against Japan (1-2) for the Germans, gargantuan success against Costa Rica (7-0) for the Spaniards -, the two European leaders found themselves at Al-Khor for a shock to make your mouth water in advance.

Perhaps the most beautiful on paper since the start of the tournament.

The promise has long given way to half-hearted production.

The alarm clock was finally sounded by incoming Alvaro Morata, a goal that almost knocked the Germans out, finally saved from trouble by Niclas Füllkrug.

Take a bow, @AlvaroMorata!#FIFAWorldCup |

#Qatar2022 pic.twitter.com/Dq77xcNaBs

— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 27, 2022

The only professional number 9 in the group, the Werder Bremen striker took a big thorn off the Mannschaft, who left without the ball in the stomach of the Al-Bayt stadium.

If they are not yet mathematically eliminated and they do not have their destiny completely in their hands, the players of Hansi Flick can always count on a combination of circumstances - rather probable - to join the eighth.

This will require winning against the Costa Ricans and then counting on a loss from Japan against La Roja, or a draw or a victory for the Japanese, all while taking care of the goal difference... For Spain, the path to the 8th remains well traced, Luis Enrique will be able to connect to Twitch tonight without too much pressure.

The snub: Belgium falls from above

Certainly Group F is one, if not the toughest in Qatar, with the Croatian vice-world champions and the promising Canadians.

But to see the third of the last World Cup fall against Morocco, has everything of a surprise.

Outclassed by the Atlas Lions (2-0), Belgium has suffered a serious setback in its tournament, already launched by a laborious success against Canada (1-0).

As Kevin De Bruyne had blown, Eden Hazard and his partners are indeed starting to show their age, crunched by the Moroccan ardor symbolized by a sharp Hakim Ziyech.

The Belgians will have to play a duel as decisive as it is spicy against Croatia on Thursday, to decide on their survival in the competition.

World Cup 2022: a brave Morocco traps Belgium and can dream of the eighth

➡️ https://t.co/bEUivu6OwF pic.twitter.com/mSk8bC06s8

— The Parisian |

sport (@leparisiensport) November 27, 2022

The start: Croatia avoids defeat

Because a few hours later, Croatia offered itself a “final” against the Belgians, leaving Canada on the side of the road.

Held in check by Morocco (0-0), the vice-world champions had a burst of pride against the promising North American team (4-1).

It all started like a dream for the Canucks, when Alphonso Davies scored the very first goal in the history of his country in a World Cup.

But revving up over the minutes, the Croats of Andrej Kramaric (doubled) punished Canadians a little tender.

And already eliminated from the race for the eighth even before their last match against Morocco.

Thursday's Croatia-Belgium (4 p.m.) will be worth its weight in gold.

The number: 2

Surgically effective.

Dominated in the game, Costa Rica showered Japan (1-0) by scoring ten minutes from the end to relaunch in group E. A goal from Keysher Fuller on the only shot on target from Keylor's partners Navas.

But also on one of the only two balls touched in the opposing area by the Ticos.

Enough to "keep dreaming", enthused coach Luis Fernando Suarez after the match.

2 - Costa Rica is the first team to win a World Cup match despite so few balls touched in the opposing area (2) since Opta analyzed the competition (1966).

Efficient.

#JPNCRC pic.twitter.com/PSyJsc7RwJ

— OptaJean (@OptaJean) November 27, 2022

The sentence: "I'm very sorry, I'm sorry"

In conf 'on the eve of facing Switzerland, without Neymar injured in the ankle, the Brazilian coach Tite made his

.

Regretting not having released the star of the Seleção a little earlier, Thursday against Serbia: “I did not realize that he was injured.

Especially since he participated, after his injury, in an action that allowed us to score a goal.

It's a mistake on my part, I blame myself a lot, I regret it, I should have been more careful.

Brazil still hopes to recover Neymar for Cameroon (3rd day, Friday) or more probably in the 8th, if the Auriverdes compost their ticket on Monday.

Neymar's ankle

The tile: the injury of Danilo Pereira

Unexpected holder in the Portuguese rearguard in place of Pepe, for Portugal's first match against Ghana (3-2), Danilo Pereira will not be able to continue.

The Swiss army knife of PSG was injured in training this Sunday with his selection.

Result: fracture of three ribs, and an absence recorded for the last two group matches of the Portuguese (Uruguay Monday, South Korea Friday).

He will be replaced in the eleven by Pepe, in the recovery phase when his country entered the running.

But who, at 39, is still perceived as a "monster" by his coach Fernando Santos.