Coach Hansi Flick saluted the youngsters in his team while hinting that it’s time for the seniors to move on, following Germany’s failure to progress to the knockouts despite beating Costa Rica 4-2 in their last Group E match at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium on Thursday night. 

Germany, who shockingly lost to Japan in their opening match before sharing points with Spain next, finished with just four points. And Coach Flick admitted he was angry. “At half-time, I was very angry and I told them that. We had so many chances, but failed to score. Thankfully, Kai [Havertz] turned the game around and helped us go home with a victory,” said the coach, referring to the brace scored by second-half substitute Havertz (73rd and 85th minute) who was named Player of the Match. Serge Gnabry (10th min) opened the scoring for the Germans before Costa Rica’s Yeltsin Tejeda equalised and an own goal by goalkeeper Manuel Neuer saw them trailing 1-2 at one stage. Niclas Fullkrug (89th) eventually completed the tally for the Germans after Havertz’s double.