At their remote training headquarters in the north of the Qatar peninsula, a range of tricky questions have kept Germany, the 2014 world champions, busy over the last four days.
Quite apart from asking themselves how they let a position of dominance, and a 1-0 half-time lead, turn into defeat against Japan in their opening fixture, they had to ponder how best to combat the least predictable set of threats at this World Cup - Spain’s.
Lose on Sunday evening against the Spanish and Germany face, for the second World Cup in a row, an abrupt group-stage exit. Repeat the scoreline from the last time these storied football countries met - a 6-0 Spain win in the Uefa Nations League in 2020 - and the humiliation would become truly historic.
The difficulty for Germany coach Hansi Flick, as he persuades his players that the 6-0 was a freak result, is that, with the Spain of Luis Enrique, it was not so freakish. They periodically inflict mammoth scorelines, and second-guessing which individuals might lead these routs is devilishly hard.
As the German squad, stunned by Wednesday’s Japanese comeback, headed back to their Al Shamal base, they were obliged to watch, through the journey, the many highlights of Spain’s masterly performance later in the day: the nimble turns of Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres and Alvaro Morata for goals one, four and seven against an overwhelmed Costa Rica; the clean finishing of Marco Asensio, Gavi and Carlos Soler for the second, fifth and sixth goals.
There were six different scorers in all, a celebration of what Enrique calls the “the associative way we get our goals”. It is trademark of his tenure and perhaps owes something to his own playing past. He is a former Spain international, whose career spread across Real Madrid and Barcelona and was notable for its flexibility. He could lead the attack, galvanise midfield, or even fill in at full-back.
For the Spain he manages, goals come from all over the pitch. In his 41 matches in charge of Spain, Luis Enrique has seen 28 different goalscorers.
Spain v Costa Rica player ratings
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SPAIN RATINGS: Unai Simon - 7. Had nothing, absolutely nothing, to do as Costa Rica didn’t have a single shot on goal. That hasn’t happened since a game between Brazil and Costa Rica in 1990. And that was the first time since 1966 that a team didn’t have a shot on goal. In contrast, Spain had 15. Getty -
Jordi Alba - 9. As advanced as he plays for Barcelona, his quick ball to Asensio set up the second. Fouled for Spain’s penalty which led to the third. In and out for Barcelona this season, he’s likely to be a mainstay for as long as Spain stay in the finals. Getty -
Aymeric Laporte - 8. Completed more passes in the first half than the entire Costa Rica team put together. Getty -
Rodri - 7. Played as a central defender rather than a defensive midfielder. As easy as it will get for him at international level as Spain completed over 1,000 passes in the match. AFP -
Cesar Azpilicueta - 7. More key passes forward for any defender. Unchallenged in Spain’s biggest ever World Cup win. AFP -
Sergio Busquets - 8. One of five Barcelona players in Spain’s starting XI. Saw plenty of ball as Spain has 85 per cent of possession and passed their opponents into an early submission. Passed to Alba who was in space to set up the second. Won everything in the air. Reuters -
Pedri - 9. Costa Rica struggled to get near him and his rapid passing which helped set up the opening goal. A cut above any other player. Getty -
Gavi - 8. At 18, Spain’s youngest ever player in a World Cup finals, he dropped a beautiful ball in to set up Olmo for the opener. Scored himself when he volleyed in Spain’s fifth after 74 minutes. That made him the youngest goalscorer in a World Cup match since Pele in 1958. Superb technique. EPA -
Dani Olmo - 9. The 24-year-old Catalan directed a beautiful ball wide after four minutes, then scored Spain’s 100th goal in World Cup finals after a graceful spin/turn. Set up Spain’s seventh. Huge lift for the player who’d been injured before the finals. Getty -
Marco Asensio - 8. Shot on target was saved by Navas on 8, but he scored Spain’s second after 20, sweeping an Alba cross past the bungling Navas for his first World Cup goal. Out of favour with Real Madrid but played well for his country. AP -
Ferran Torres - 8. Made it 3-0 with a cool penalty after just 30 minutes. And 4-0 after 53, hooking in a ball past the hapless, hopeless, Costa Ricans. Perfect start for him in the World Cup finals. AFP -
SUBS: Alvaro Morata (Torres, 57') - 8. Set up Gavi for the fifth. Scored himself, Spain’s seventh. He’s now scored 28 goals for his country. AFP -
Carlos Soler (Pedri 57') - 7. Slotted in his fourth international goal to make it 6-0. EPA -
Alejandro Balde (Alba 64') - 6. On his World Cup debut. Crossed towards Soler which led to Spain’s sixth. EPA -
Koke (Busquets 64') - 6. Assumed the captain’s armband, an experienced player among the young. Getty -
Nico Williams (Asensio 69') - 6. Came on as Luis Enrique gave his players minutes and rests ahead of their key game against Germany. EPA -
COSTA RICA RATINGS: Keylor Navas - 1. The experienced goalkeeper had to do better with the second goal as Marco Asensio’s shot didn’t look to be directed too far into the corner. A tough opening game for the Paris Saint-Germain star as he picked the ball out of his net on seven occasions. AFP -
Bryan Oviedo - 4. Worked hard throughout the match as one of the more experienced players in Costa Rica’s side, but couldn’t make an impact against a dominant Spain side. Replaced in the 82nd minute as focus switched to the next game. Getty -
Francisco Calvo - 2. It wasn’t clear what Calvo was doing for the fourth goal conceded as he made an initial block before showing a lack of intensity to react to the second ball. A moment that summed up Costa Rica’s defensive display. AFP -
Oscar Duarte - 2. Conceded a penalty in the 29th minute that left Costa Rica with a mountain to climb. A strong challenge denied Asensio from a second goal close to the half-time whistle. Slow to react in situations. AFP -
Carlos Martinez - 5. Forced to battle hard against a Spain side that often came down his flank. Could have used more help from his midfield who were slow to track runners. Substituted at half-time. EPA -
Keysher Fuller - 4. Allowed too much space for Jordi Alba to benefit from overlapping runs and had to help out his full-back more to prevent an attacking route that Spain profited from frequently. AFP -
Celso Borges - 6. One of the few Costa Rica players able to maintain possession while also winning a number of duels. Sometimes applied pressure in the wrong moments, but it was a difficult midfield battle on the night against Pedri and Gavi. Reuters -
Yeltsin Tejeda - 4. Couldn’t seem to get on the ball enough despite playing in midfield and gave away possession cheaply when he did, though that wasn’t helped by an overall poor team performance from Costa Rica. AP -
Jewison Bennette - 5. A tough night for the 18-year-old who spent most of the game trying to keep shape as Spain kept possession. Wasn’t provided service when forward to try and influence the match. AFP -
Joel Campbell - 4. Tried to link play with Keysher Fuller but a lack of service in forward areas meant he often had to play cautiously. A lack of service meant he could rarely get going in a match that became a training exercise for Spain. Booked late-on. AP -
Anthony Contreras - 4. Held the ball up well in some moments under pressure but was more often dispossessed as multiple defenders crowded him out. AFP -
SUBS: Kendall Waston (Martinez, 45') - 6. Won a number of duels that helped relieve pressure. Looked to add a level of physicality to Costa Rica’s defence and was strong in the tackle, though could have been quicker to track Morata for the seventh goal. A solid case to start the next game. AFP -
Bryan Ruiz (Bennette, 61') - 5. Found similar struggles to Bennette and gave away the ball too easily. EPA -
Alvaro Zamora (Contreras, 61') - 5. Kept things simple as Costa Rica looked to keep the score down, with the match out of sight by the time he was brought on. Brandon Aguilera (Borges, 72') N/A. Ronald Matarrita (Oviedo, 82') N/A. AFP
That fact, and the elastic approach to positioning and selection that underpins it, poses difficulties for Flick. “I probably won’t field the same starting XI for Germany,” teased Luis Enrique, before acknowledging that certain habits are utterly ingrained. Probably became definitely. “I’ll certainly make changes.” He always does, from one game to the next.
It helps every member of the squad feel included, readied for opportunity. It keeps the opposition on their toes. Nor will studying club form provide Germany’s technical staff with much insight into who might be the chief Spanish threats.
Enrique’s chosen front three against Costa Rica were: Olmo, who has spent much of the last two months recovering from ligament problems and scored just once for RB Leipzig this term; Torres, who is used off the bench more often than in the starting line-up at Barcelona; and Asensio, who has been in Real Madrid’s starting line-up for only one Liga fixture in 2022-23.
Each of those are fully tuned in to Enrique’s mantra: “It’s far more important what players do for me than what they do for their clubs.” David de Gea and Kepa Arrizabalaga have learned that the hard way. Both have starred in goal for their high-pressure employers, Manchester United and Chelsea, since August. Luis Enrique preferred to take Robert Sanchez and David Raya, of lower-profile Premier League clubs Brighton and Brentford, to Qatar in support of his first-choice gloveman, Unai Simon.
Germany v Japan player ratings
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GERMANY RATINGS: Manuel Neuer – 6. The skipper began his fourth World Cup campaign with a mixed display. After the early scare of Maeda’s disallowed goal he made one brilliant save from Ito but had no chance with Roan’s equaliser. By his standards, questions might be asked of Asano’s near-post winner. Getty -
Niklas Sule – 5. Tested as Japan sought to exploit Germany’s full-backs, but largely gave as good as he got and always looked to be on the front foot in possession. Tired as the game wore on and was caught out by a long ball to play Asano onside for the winner. AP -
Antonio Rudiger – 5. Dealt with everything Japan could throw at him aerially, but lamented his own failure to do better with a free header from a Kimmich corner in the first period. His game got steadily busier and slowly fell apart in the second period under Japanese pressure. Reuters -
Nico Schlotterbeck – 5. Had to cover for Raum more than once and initially did so with a high level of poise. Grew increasingly ragged, however, and was outwitted by Asano in the game’s defining moment. Reuters -
David Raum – 5. Faced plenty of defensive questions in transition but made up for that with a constant attacking menace. Involved in Germany’s best first-half chances and won the all-important penalty, but his defensive shortcomings were evident after the break. Getty -
Joshua Kimmich – 6. Tidy and intelligent in midfield role, but his influence waned as the game unfolded. Provided reliable set-piece deliveries. Had one stinging shot beaten away by Gonda and blazed another well over from an inviting position. Getty -
Ilkay Gundogan – 6. Offered a reprieve when caught in possession for Maeda’s disallowed goal, but his contribution improved after that. Might have done better when his effort was blocked by Yoshida but soon broke the deadlock with an ice-cool penalty conversion. Hit the post in the second half when he might have done better. AFP -
Jamal Musiala – 7. Germany’s youngest World Cup starter since 1958 never looked out of place. Blazed over after a superb piece of possession play at the end of the first half, then again early in the second after a sublime solo run. Livewire. AFP -
Thomas Muller – 7. The old stager slipped above and below radar as required by his side, joining the dots time and again in Germany’s forward forays. Next-level intellect which too often went unrewarded by his team-mates. Reuters -
Serge Gnabry – 6. A lively attacking outlet throughout who caused Japan regular problems, but his decision-making at key times was off-kilter and that ultimately came back to haunt Flick’s men. Getty -
Kai Havertz – 5. While lacking the attacking thrust demanded of his role, the Chelsea man compensated by setting the benchmark for endeavour, chasing lost causes and loose balls. Belatedly denied a tap-in for a clear offside. Needed to do more generally with his chance. AFP -
SUBS: Jonas Hofmann (Thomas Muller, 67) – 5. Added little to Germany’s play at a time when Japan’s changes were steadily wresting control of the game. AP -
Leon Goretzka (Ilkay Gundogan, 67) – 6. Added energy to Germany’s flagging performance, but could have had a much bigger impact on the outcome with better finishing. AFP -
Mario Gotze (Kai Havertz, 79) – N/A. Niclas Fullkrug (Jamal Musiala, 79) – N/A. Youssofa Moukoko (Serge Gnabry, 90) – N/A. Reuters -
JAPAN RATINGS: Shuichi Gonda – 7. Made a strong save from Kimmich’s effort but blotted his copy book with the clumsy concession of Germany’s penalty. Atoned with a vital stop from Goretzka and a brilliant double stop from Gnabry shortly before Japan levelled. The game’s turning point. Getty -
Hiroki Sakai – 6. Caught out of position for Germany’s penalty and was regularly pinpointed in the first half. After Japan’s formational shift in the second period he was able to contribute more going forward – though he should have done better after Ito’s shot had been parried. EPA -
Maya Yoshida – 7. The veteran centre-back led by example throughout with his intelligent reading of the game. Blocked Gundogan’s goalbound effort in a scramble just before the half-hour. Showed a wide range of passing and led a fine late defensive effort. Getty -
Ko Itakura – 6. A mixed performance in which he was outfoxed by Musiala more than once but looked to compensate by imposing himself physically on the contest. Gave his all and turned in a gritty, resilient display. AP -
Yuto Nagatomo – 6. Made history as his country’s first player to appear at four World Cups. Fired in a wondrous cross on the stroke of half-time which almost led to a Maeda leveller, then made way early in the second half. AP -
Wataru Endo – 8. A fine display in the heart of midfield. Ate up the ground, triumphed in most of his personal duels and demonstrated football intelligence in possession. Played a key role in shaping Japan’s control of the game. Getty -
Ao Tanaka – 7. Set the tone with a succession of tough early challenges and was razor sharp in the tackle throughout. Helped his side keep a foothold in the game as Germany passed up a string of chances, before making way for Doan. Getty -
Junya Ito – 8. Bright and lively across the entire game and a key performer in Japan’s historic turnaround. Only denied a deserved goal by Neuer’s superb one-handed save shortly before the scores were tied. EPA -
Daichi Kamada – 8 A delightful contribution, full of smart, snappy touches. The Eintracht Frankfurt schemer was technically excellent throughout and thoroughly deserving of his role in the win. Getty -
Takefusa Kubo – 5 Hooked at half-time as coach Moriyasu sought to shore up Japan’s susceptibility on the right flank. Prior to that, the winger showed willingness but performance amounted to little more than endeavour. EPA -
Daizen Maeda – 6. Thought he’d broken the deadlock early on with a clinical finish, but was caught offside. Headed just wide on the cusp of the interval and made way early in the second period. Getty -
SUBS: Takehiro Tomiyasu (Takefusa Kubo, half-time) – 7. Introduced for the second period as Japan switched formation, and it proved to be an inspired decision. A sweat-soaked shift under immense pressure. Getty -
Kaoru Mitoma (Yuto Nagatomo, 57) – 7. Brighton striker was given just over half-an-hour to sharpen up his side’s attack and he continued replicating his fine Premier League form. Getty -
Takuma Asano (Daizen Maeda, 57) – 8. Straight into the action, providing a fresh threat for Japan. Took a little while to find his shooting range, but ultimately discovered it in sensational fashion. AFP -
Ritsu Doan (Ao Tanaka, 71) – 7. An inspired introduction. Looked lively from the moment of his introduction and capped that display with a famous equaliser, powering in from close range. AFP -
Takumi Minamino (Hiroki Sakai, 74) – 7. An almost instant impact, playing a huge role in Doan’s leveller and posing a series of questions of Germany’s tiring backline. AP
Against Costa Rica, the Manchester City midfielder Rodri started at centre back, another hard-to-foresee quirk of selection. Alex Balde came on at left-back, to good effect, for his first international cap, one of three Barcelona teenagers - Gavi is 18, Pedri turned 20 on Thursday - used by a coach who chose not to bring Sergio Ramos - 36 years old, 180 caps - or Thiago Alcantara - 46 caps, 11 league titles - to the adventure in the Gulf.
The Thiago exclusion was met with raised eyebrows at Liverpool, his current club, and at Bayern Munich, where he enjoyed huge success, and won the European Champions League under Flick. The several Bayern men in Germany’s squad recall Thiago being trusted as much as anybody to keep possession, find his target as a passer over short range and long.
Spain, under Luis Enrique - the coach who, says Asensio, is “searching for perfection” - evidently have no need for Thiago. Quite apart from the seven goals in their opening match, they set fresh statistical landmarks for combination play. They racked up 976 accurate passes. Germany’s challenge is not only to seize and clutch on to a lifeline, but, first, to get hold of the ball for long enough to save their World Cup.
