Spain vs. Germany score: Hansi Flick's men rally for draw, keep hopes of advancing at World Cup alive

An even match saw both score in the second half

By James Benge

Nov 28, 2022 at 12:00 am ET • 1 min read

Niclas Fullkrug breathed life into Germany's faltering World Cup campaign as they drew Spain 1-1 on Sunday. Germany might have been the only team to find the net in an absorbing first half -- Antonio Rudiger's header off a free kick rightly overruled by VAR for the Real Madrid defender drifting offside -- but it was Spain who dominated the play, registering nearly 70 percent possession and creating a string of openings and half chances. When his teammates weren't offside in the build-up, Ferran Torres found himself unable to overcome the last-gasp defending of David Raum. Manuel Neuer was tested early on but responded in spectacular fashion, palming Dani Olmo's whizzing drive onto his crossbar.

If there were a slight criticism to level at an outstanding Spain display it might be in the direction of Unai Simon, whose swagger in possession could sometimes prove to be cavalier. Trusting his teammates under pressure is one thing but on occasion, he foisted additional strains on his defenders; in the first half, Serge Gnabry flashed an effort just wide and in the second Joshua Kimmich pressed well and tested the Spanish goalkeeper with a side-footed effort.

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Still, that was overwhelming outweighed by the elegance of Spain's football, its apogee coming when a delicate flick of Alvaro Morata's right boot diverted a Jordi Alba cross beyond Manuel Neuer. Here was a reminder of why Luis Enrique might be the best coach in the tournament, nine minutes into the second half the team in red had been slipping off the pace. Immediately Morata entered the fray, soon after they were leading.

Luis Enrique was, of course, not the only Champions League-winning coach in this top-tier clash and Hansi Flick replicated his counterpart's trick with the introduction of Leroy Sane and Fullkrug. With Jamal Musiala, outstanding once more, linking the two they combined for the goal that keeps Germany alive in this tournament, even if their fate is not in their own hands.

If Spain beat Japan, Germany are through with a win over Costa Rica but a draw in the other match leaves them reliant on a goal-difference swing. Spain themselves cannot afford to lose the game either whilst Costa Rica have an outside chance after their shock win over the Samurai Blue. With one game left, nothing is resolved in Group E.

Spain set the tournament benchmark

It may not have ended in as gaudy a scoreline as their opening match but Spain's standing among the tournament's elite ought to have only grown by the way they controlled this game. They ended it with 76 passes completed in the final third to the 44 of Germany, who only really enjoyed extended spells of pressure after Morata's opener forced their hand. The shots did not come as frequently as Luis Enrique might have liked but the menace was all emanating from La Furia Roja.

Beyond even that what stood out about this team was the trust they showed in each other. Nowhere was that more apparent than an awkward ball floating up on the edge of Simon's penalty area early in the first half. Aymeric Laporte saw no cause to panic as Musiala applied pressure to him, deftly flicking the ball high into the air in the conviction that his goalkeeper would come to catch it.

Across this side there were pockets of players who know each other well: a center back pairing from Manchester City in Rodri and Laporte, a Real Madrid right flank of Dani Carvajal and Marco Asensio and of course the thrilling young duo of Pedri and Gavi at the heart of things. Losing some of those automatisms when Koke and Nico Williams entered rather cost Spain the chance to kill this game off but the way they approached this game from the outset sent out a message to those vying for glory in Qatar.

Is Fullkrug Germany's answer?

The four-time champions hover over a precipice, one you would suspect they can drag themselves back from but where they will need a helping hand. That is after a day that went fairly well for Flick's side, a reminder of how fine the margins can be at the group stages of this tournament. In normal circumstances, Spain would beat Japan and Germany would cruise past Costa Rica. The problems might come if Hajime Moriyasu's side can sneak a point in the final round of games. Then Germany would need to start swinging the goal difference in their direction.

To do that they need a player who can convincingly put the ball in the net. For all his past success in this tournament, Thomas Muller did not look like that man today. Nor did Kai Havertz on Wednesday. Indeed neither of Germany's starting center forwards have had so much as a shot in the first two group games. They both profile as players who are more comfortable playing off a classic No.9 but their country's great flaw even in their spell of dominance has been how few orthodox strikers they produce to compliment their cavalcade of creatives.

Fullkrug is hardly the starriest of names and might not even have been in the squad if not for injuries elsewhere. But he does attack crosses in a way that those preferred to him did not. And if the ball is loose in the box he will kick it hard towards goal. For all the sophistication of this Germany side, sometimes that poacher can make all the difference. They could do with him from the off against Costa Rica.

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Full time

A brilliant game ends with everyone still alive in Group E. Spain's destiny is in their hands. Germany's is not -- they're bottom of the group -- but they will feel a lot better after getting that late goal.

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One last chance for Germany

It's going to come from a set piece, Spain's Achilles heel so far. There are all sorts of big players in the box for Germany and the crowd cuts to a few nervous Spanish faces. It flies beyond everyone.

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Only two minutes to go

Both teams are playing it a little safer now, knowing that a goal for their opponents could have a calamitous impact on their hopes of qualifying. Williams slips Morata away round the back but after Scholtterbeck plays him onside he makes amends with a very good tackle.

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GOAL -- All square and it's another substitute

Sane drives in from the right flank as he's been doing so well so far. His pass finds Musiala, who is aiming to turn with his touch but realises Fullkrug is about to take it off him. He clears out quite effectively, allowing the Werder Bremen striker to thump the ball home.

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Big tackle in the penalty area

As good as a goal at the other end, an authoritative tackle by Laporte in his penalty area denies Sane after smart interplay with him and Musiala. However the Germans are upping the pressure and Fullkrug, whose physicality has certainly freshened up Germany, drives forward and wins a free kick. Kimmich can't get it up and over but wins a corner.

This is where Germany have threatened the most but one key facet Morata offers this Spain side, other than goals, is his aerial ability and he heads clear at the front post.

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Musiala is still testing

A devastating run down the right by the Bayern youngster, once more Germany's best player as he was against Japan. He tries to replicate Alba's assist for Morata but a Spanish boot gets to the ball just after. Moments later Sane is teeing up Musiala with a nice reverse pass but No.14 can't strike the ball wide enough. You can't shake the suspicion that if Germany do get anything from this game, it'll be because of Musiala.

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Here's that goal for Spain

What a beautiful finish it is by Morata! And quite the change by Luis Enrique as well.

54': Morata enters the game
62': Morata scores

Instant impact for Spain 🔥 pic.twitter.com/PWxwV6QaPA
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 27, 2022

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Flick responds with a triple change

The most intriguing of the subs being readied is Niclas Fulkrug, perhaps the only natural center forward available to Germany today. He replaces Thomas Muller whilst Lukas Klosterman and Leroy Sane enter for Kehrer and Gundogan.

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GOAL -- Morata has changed the game

A quite sensational finish by Morata, darting across at the near post and letting the ball run along him before flicking the ball beyond Neuer. This intriguing game might just have burst into life.

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Spain make the change

You could sense in these opening eight minutes -- and maybe on occasion in the first half -- that Spain might get a bit better with a focal point in attack. They'll be hoping that Alvaro Morata can offer them that as he enters the fray in place of Ferran Torres.

His entry opens the game but in Germany's favor. Kimmich presses well on the edge of the box, winning the ball and then getting it back from Gundogan. His first time effort is well saved by Unai Simon, who makes amends.

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Away we go again

Germany try to pierce the Spanish high line early on but Muller can't quite reach a ball over the top. They're going to need to try more of that but at the moment they look a little way behind the Spanish team.

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The big moment of the first half

Here's Rudiger's goal that wasn't, one which looks comfortably offside when you see it back.

After a VAR check, Antonio Rüdiger's goal does not count for Germany pic.twitter.com/TSCfSmBbdM
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) November 27, 2022

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Half time -- All square

No goals but plenty to enjoy from this game, which ends with quite the warning for Spain as Rudiger once more gets on a set piece, this time not quite managing to get the ball square for a team mate to turn in. Still the balance of play points firmly towards this game being firmly in Spain's control. The question for Luis Enrique is whether that can be turned into goals.

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Rudiger has the ball in the net

Germany win a free kick down the right flank and get the defenders up. Rudiger has all the room in the world to meet the delivery and flick it in, Unai Simon doesn't have a chance. However VAR takes a look and quickly concludes that the Real Madrid center back had gone too soon and was in an offside position when the cross was delivered. No goal.

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Pressure on Germany

That miss has set the stage for another extended spell of pressure from the Spanish and once more Raum has blocked a Torres shot as Spain crank up the pressure. In truth for most of this first half they have been the dominant team, with 68 percent possession at the time of writing and a lead on shots by four for two. But... they might be about to regret not turning that possession into a bit more.

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What a miss!

Olmo might have been offside in the build up anyway, the linesman certainly thinks so, but what a miss that was from Torres, who contrives to lift the ball over the bar from level with the penalty spot after a low cross from the RB Leipzig man had teed him up wonderfully. Germany really paid the price for their aggressive press there, one quick pass down the left cutting them apart. Luckily the defensive line was right enough to catch Olmo.

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And there's the downside of Spanish swagger

Twice in a matter of minutes we see sloppy clearances from Unai Simon, the second in particular a disastrous pass to Gnabry just outside the Spain area. He opens up his body to aim at the far left corner, hitting it rather sweetly but just wide.

The Spanish goalkeeper isn't alone in clusmy passing out from the back, Neuer also giving it to a Spanish player in a dangerous position. They work the ball out from the left to Torres on the opposite flank and it takes good defending from Raum to block the shot. Why do they do they do this, you might wonder if you're new to football. Simply put, the good of getting possession that moves through the line and allows you to keep the ball (rather than aimlessly punting it long) outweighs the infrequent risks and disasters.

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Smooth Spain

Well I for one am really enjoying this game, even if there is half a sense that the two teams are cancelling each other out, turning this game a bit into your turn, my turn. But if you wanted a sense of how at ease Spain are, the ball loops up on the edge of their own penalty area with Musiala hovering awkwardly over Laporte.

Calm as you like the Manchester City man flicks the ball up into the air for Unai SImon to rise up and catch it, also under pressure from Musiala. That's the sort of football you only really see at top club level, where the players know each other like the back of their hands. It's a remarkable sight at a major international tournament.

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Better from Germany

After those trying early moments Flick's side are starting to get back in this game, weaving some passes up towards Musiala and Muller. Gnabry had half a chance earlier but Unai Simon did very well to close what was already a tight angle.

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Big chance, big save

A thumper from Olmo outside the box and what a save that is from Neuer, getting strong gloves behind a shot he must have seen late. The ball flies onto the crossbar and out to safety, it moved so fast that it looked as if it had simply burst through the space-time continuum.

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Kick off

Away we go and from the very first minute Spain are seeing a lot of the ball. Torres fizzes a pass to Pedri on the edge of the box but for once his touch lets him down. Still the team in red are making all the running.

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The teams are out

As was the case in the opening games Neuer has most of his captain's armband obscured by his jersey. TV images do not, however, show any repeat of the mouths covered protest that Germany made before the Japan game.

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Armband talk rolls on for Germany

One game in and the national press are already seeing worrying parallels between this World Cup and the last one, where as defending champions Germany crashed out at the group stage amid a tumult of off-field issues. In 2018, it was the photo opportunity with Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan and two Germany internationals, this time it was the decision to cover their mouths in the pre-match photo in what appeared to be a protest against FIFA's banning of the "OneLove" armband.

It was a gesture that won admirers but also critics with former midfielder Lothar Matthaus saying, "There was too much drama in the build-up, too many issues that were more important than football, much like four years ago. That sort of thing disturbs your concentration, it distracts – and thus means you may lack the crucial 5 or 10%."

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A good atmosphere in the Spanish camp

There is quite the positive atmosphere seeping out of La Furia Roja training camp in recent days, typified by Luis Enrique joking on his Twitch streaming channel about the late night activities of his players whilst they are away at the tournament. He has no concerns and how could he when six of his players found the net in a comprehensive victory?

The challenge for him might well be quelling expectations after a win against a Costa Rica side who did not reach their best level, one which still would have been some way off Spain's. In particular, the on ball pressure which Los Ticos offered will be nothing compared to the intensity that Germany can deliver.

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How to watch and odds

Date: Sunday, Nov. 26 | Time: 2 p.m. ET
Location: Al Bayt Stadium -- Al Khor
TV: FS1 and Telemundo | Live stream: fuboTV (Try for free)
Odds: Spain +138; Draw +240; Germany +188 (via Caesars Sportsbook)

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Last time out

The emotions could scarcely have been more contrasting for these two in their opening games. Spain were kings of the tournament, romping to a seven goal triumph over Costa Rica, whilst Germany were thrust into crisis by defeat to Japan. And yet the differences between these two sides might have been nothing more than conversion and one opponent being able to punish mistakes at the back.

Indeed even though they scored six goals fewer Germany actually registered more non-penalty expected goals, 2.33 to be precise, than Spain's tally of 1.81 in games where both sides scored from the spot too. It's not all down to game state either, Hansi Flick's side had many of their best chances when they were at 0-0 or 1-0 before being blown away by Japan. You'd trust that their forwards might make more of their chances this time.

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The teams are in

Spain XI: Unai Simon; Carvajal, Rodri, Laporte, Alba; Busuqets, Gavi, Pedri; Asensio, Olmo, Torres

Germany XI: Neuer; Kehrer, Sule, Rudiger, Raum; Kimmich, Goretzka, Gundogan; Gnabry, Muller, Musiala

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Hello and welcome to what is sure to be a cracker of a clash between two of the best teams in this competition even if the opening results didn't show that. Certainly one thing we learned is that both Germany and Spain can dominate possession and attack. How will they balance each other out? I can't wait to find out.