Good news for the German national team: Costa Rica’s 1-0 win over Japan has improved the DFB selection’s starting position.

Costa Rica has given the German national football team valuable support in its fight for a place in the last 16 of the World Cup. The Central Americans surprisingly defeated Japan 1:0 (0:0). This means that national coach Hansi Flick’s team will not be eliminated early even if they lose to Spain in the evening.

Keysher Fuller (81st) scored for Costa Rica, who had lost 7-0 to Spain in their opener, at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium on Sunday. Star goalkeeper Keylor Navas and his team thus preserved their chances of reaching the knockout rounds. Japan, four days after their 2-1 defeat by Germany, only invested more after the break but were then caught cold.