Germany vow to learn from 2018 exit in must-win Costa Rica match

Hopes of qualifying for last 16 are not entirely in their own hands though

Germany veteran Thomas Mueller said his side would “stay humble” with their World Cup group stage exit in 2018 fresh in their minds ahead of today’s mustwin clash with Costa Rica.

Niclas Fuellkrug’s 83rdminute equaliser against Spain on Sunday put Germany’s challenge back on track after a damaging opening defeat to Japan.

Germany’s hopes of qualifying for the last 16 in Qatar are not entirely in their hands even if they defeat underdogs Costa Rica.

A win for Japan against the Spanish in the simultaneous game would mean Germany must outdo Spain’s goal difference, which has been heavily boosted by La Roja’s 7-0 annihilation of the Costa Ricans in their opening fixture.

Mueller said however he was just focusing on beating Costa Rica, who bounced back in their second game to beat Japan 1-0.

“When the football world looks at Germany versus Costa Rica, from the outside looking in we are the favourites and it is clear that we should win,” Mueller said. “We are staying humble. We have only one point and a minus one goal difference, there’s no reason for us to be euphoric.

“There may have been a smile on our lips (after the Spain game), but that was only because we knew we have a chance.”

The predicament is a far cry from Germany’s one-time label as a “tournament team”, a product of their relentless consistency at the World Cup.

But having won the tournament in 2014 in Brazil, that consistency deserted the them as the defending champions crashed out in the group phase in Russia for years ago.

Now they face a second successive group stage exit.