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Spain has hit the front against Germany thanks to Alvaro Morata, but there is still time for the four-time champions to rescue matters at the Al Bayt Stadium.
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Six minutes of added time
By Andrew McGarry
It’s still a live game, well and truly.
Spain break forward, and they play through Alvaro Morata – hearts in German mouths, but a fine block stops the charge.
Let’s wait and see – how many added minutes? Six minutes – don’t get comfortable yet, folks.
Germany equalise! It’s 1-1
By Andrew McGarry
Key Event
The subs are getting it done tonight!
Niclas Füllkrug has scored an absolute ripper, getting the ball on the right of the box and rocketing one across Unai Simon into the top corner.
Germany celebrates, and Spain look glum.
It’s not over, and a draw isn’t the worst for Spain, but they had all three points in their grasp.
Will they settle for one, or keep trying for a winner? There are five minutes left plus stoppage time.
Time running out for Germany
By Andrew McGarry
How will this finish? Germany are far from giving up, running at the Spanish defence.
Leroy Sane tried about five times there to get clear to score in the box, but was frustrated.
However the Germans regrouped and have forced a free kick on the edge of the box with 10 minutes left.
Unfortunately for them, Kimmich’s free kick cannons into the wall. It’s a corner – but it breaks down, and Spain goes down the other end. Germany cut off the break and it stays 1-0.
The moment it went wrong for Germany
By Andrew McGarry
Germany trying to get back in it
By Andrew McGarry
Less than 20 minutes left, the urgency is rising for Germany.
Jamal Musiala goes down the right, and he crosses in but sub Niclas Füllkrug’s shot is blocked.
Musiala gets another chance a minute or two later, but he looks very tired and his shot lacks power.
They are still creating chances, though – this isn’t over.
Spain move up the gears
By Andrew McGarry
Suddenly, a one-goal lead has given Spain a shot of confidence and they are bursting through the middle with ease.
Alvaro Morata is clearly keen on making his mark on this game – he is giving the German defence nightmares.
We are entering the final quarter of the game with 68 minutes gone.
Germany need to find something quickly here – you get the sense another goal for Spain will just about finish it.
Leroy Sane is coming on for Die Mannschaft.
Spain get the goal from Alvaro Morata!
By Andrew McGarry
Key Event
And out of nowhere, Spain strike – it’s 1-0!
Once again it’s down the left through Dani Olmo onto Jordi Alba.
Alba swings it in, and Alvaro Morata darts in ahead of the defender and prods it into the roof of the net – nothing that Manuel Neuer can do!
This is big trouble for Germany now. What will they do?
A moment from Musiala
By Andrew McGarry
Germany coming into it more, Kimmich charges down the left. He gets the ball into Jamal Musiala, who starts dancing around the Spanish defenders before he is taken down in a tackle.
More of that, Hansi Flick will be thinking.
Spain nearly give it away!
By Andrew McGarry
Unai Simon’s playing out from the back has been problematic for Spain – and they nearly paid for it there!
Simon’s pass went astray, it was passed around and fell to Joshua Kimmich. His fierce shot looked headed for the corner of the net, but Simon made up for his error with a fine save.
We are closing in on half an hour to go … will the approach change as the heat and tiredness creep in?
Spain makes the first switch
By Andrew McGarry
As soon as I say that, Ferran Torres comes off and Alvaro Morata is on for Spain.
No sign of subs yet for either side
By Andrew McGarry
You wonder how long the coaches will leave things as they are.
With five substitutes to play with there are plenty of options on the bench, but for the moment Hansi Flick and Luis Enrique seem content to let things play out at 0-0.
No joy yet for Germany
By Andrew McGarry
There’s a free on the left to Germany, the referee is warning the players about wrestling in the box.
Kimmich’s free swings in, but the German players attempt to beat the offside trap fails miserably.
Both sides continuing to attack
By Andrew McGarry
The left side is proving fertile ground for both teams – Dani Olmo burst down the wing and provided a cross that went too close to Manuel Neuer.
Then at the other end Thomas Müller charged ahead, but the ball failed to fall properly for him and it was cleared before a free was given to Spain.
Ready for the second half
By Andrew McGarry
Play is underway again at the Al Bayt Stadium – but it’s a false start and they have to take it again.
Germany go forward, but a cross from the left is too easy for Unai Simon in the Spanish goal.
Germany are continuing to press the heck out of Spain here, throwing big numbers of players at the ball to try to shut down the Spanish attack. Can they keep it up, or will Spain break through?
A quick snapshot of the first half
By Andrew McGarry
As you might expect, Spain completed 367 passes to Germany’s 171, and 69 per cent possession to Germany’s 31 per cent.
La Roja’s more direct attacking play forced five corners to none for Germany. But even though Spain had four shots to Germany’s one, both sides managed one on target.
The game is obviously in the balance – the question is how far will Germany push things?
Given Costa Rica’s win over Japan, and Germany facing Los Ticos in the final round, will Hansi Flick be willing to settle for a draw at some point, banking on being able to run up the score next game?
HT: Spain 0 Germany 0
By Andrew McGarry
Key Event
There were two minutes of added time allowed, and although Spain went forward and forced a corner, nothing came of it, and so the whistle blows to end an intriguing first period at the Al Bayt Stadium.
Both sides have had their chances – Germany had it in the net, but it was rightfully ruled out for offside.
Spain have had more clearcut chances, and Ferran Torres should have taken one of his opportunities, but his first touch is letting him down.
It’s all to play for here in the second 45, and whichever side can find its control in the attacking third will come away with the points.
Antonio Rudiger has it in the net for Germany – but it’s offside
By Andrew McGarry
Key Event
And after all of that passing and setting up from Spain, Germany get a free-kick on the right.
Joshua Kimmich swings it in, and suddenly it’s in the back of the net! Antonio Rudiger swooped in and had a clear header, way too easy.
But wait – there’s a VAR check and it’s ruled out for offside.
Still, that is a big warning for La Roja.
Ferran Torres needs his shooting boots for Spain
By Andrew McGarry
Spain are creating more chances, and they could have had an opener when the ball came in for Ferran Torres, but the striker blazed over from close range – his blushes were saved by an offside flag.
A few minutes later Torres had another chance from the edge of the box on the right, but the German defence closed in and blocked the shot.
He is certainly at the centre of things for Spain – dani Olmo is creating on the left, and Torres is having the chance. He is also copping some attention from the German tacklers.
We have seven minutes plus added time to go in this half, will someone make the breakthrough?
Can Musiala make the difference for Germany?
By Andrew McGarry
For all the established stars in Germany’s attack, it may well be Jamal Musiala who provides the difference for Die Mannschaft.
The Bayern Munich player shows lots of potential, and he nearly scored against Japan with some individual brilliance in round one.
Are nerves getting to Spain and Germany?
By Andrew McGarry
To this point, as much as Spain have seemed to have more attacking ability, the turnovers have been coming thick and fast.
For two sides of well above-average ability, it is a little surprising.
The pressure is obviously on, and the stakes are high here, but as Antonio Rudiger blazes a long-shot high into Row Z for Germany, a little composure would not go astray here.
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