December 1, 2022 World Cup news and highlights

By Aditi Sangal, Leighton Rowell, Matt Meyer and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN

Updated 5:28 PM ET, Thu December 1, 2022

What we covered here

Shock exit: Germany was knocked out of the World Cup — despite beating Costa Rica — after an extraordinary finale to Group E. Japan topped the group after beating Spain 2-1 and the Spanish advanced due to a superior goal difference.
Early shocker: Belgium tied with Croatia and will not move on to the knockout stage, a shock for the world No. 2. Meanwhile, Morocco beat Canada to advance.
On Wednesday: Argentina and Poland advanced out of Group C while Australia and France made it out of Group D.
In photos: Check out the best pictures from the 2022 World Cup here.
En español: Sigue nuestra cobertura del mundial en español aquí.

Our live coverage for the day has ended. Follow the latest World Cup news here or read through the updates below.

3:06 p.m. ET, December 6, 2022

Japan advances to the knockouts with a 2-1 victory, stunning Spain

Japan's Ao Tanaka celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Spain. (Aijaz Rahi/AP)

It was an incredible match.

Spain had expectedly dominated the ball in the first half, keeping Japan on the chase and then, striker Alvaro Morata had secured the opening goal for Spain early in the match too.

But Japan stood up a phenomenal campaign against La Furia Roja getting two goals one after the other in the 48th and 51st minutes. Spain was just unable to reply throughout the second half.

The Blue Samurai's triumphant advance to the Round of 16 atop Group E is especially spectacular give the stats: the team only had possession of the ball for less than 20% of the entire match, and lesser attempted shots at the Spanish goal too.

Spain also squeaked through to the knockout round as Costa Rica failed to defeat Germany.

Correction: An earlier version of this post misstated the nickname of Spain's team. It is La Furia Roja.

3:57 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

Germany tops Costa Rica 4-2 – but fails to qualify for next stage

We have a final at Al Bayt Stadium, with Germany winning 4-2.

The Germans roared back in the second half and scored two late goals for a commanding victory. But to no avail.

Ultimately, the action determining whether Germany could advance to the Round of 16 was taking place in the other Group E match, where Japan defeated Spain 2-1, assuring both those teams will advance.

3:50 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

Germany scores again, but its fate hinges on the other Group E match

Germany's Niclas Fullkrug scores his team's fourth goal. (Annegret Hilse/Reuters)

Germany has scored again, making it 4-2 late against Costa Rica.

But the Germans can't do much to control their fate. They need Spain to mount a comeback against Japan. Spain trails 2-1 in stoppage time.

3:46 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

GOAL! Germany takes a 3-2 lead

Germany's Kai Havertz scores his team's third goal. (Annegret Hilse/Reuters)

Germany is back ahead, leading Costa Rica 3-2 late in the second half.

Kai Havertz scored the goal off of a cross from midfielder Serge Gnabry in the 85th minute.

It was Havertz's second goal of the night – and positioned Germany to at least have a shot at advancing to the Round of 16.

It would need help from Spain, though, and Japan is still ahead 2-1 late in the other Group E match.

3:38 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

Germany ties it 2-2 against Costa Rica

Germany's Kai Havertz, in white, scores his team's second goal against Costa Rica. (Ariel Schalit/AP)

Minutes after Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead, Germany's Kai Havertz equalized to make it 2-2.

3:36 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

GOAL! Costa Rica has taken a 2-1 lead

Costa Rica's Juan Pablo Vargas scores his team's second goal against Germany. (Fabrizio Bensch/Reuters)

Costa Rica has scored again and taken a 2-1 lead over Germany at Al Bayt Stadium.

Defender Juan Pablo Vargas found the net amid a scrum near the goal.

Germany and Spain are on the brink of elimination, as an improbable sequence of events plays out in Group E.

3:24 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

An equalizer! Costa Rica ties it up at 1-1

Costa Rica's Yeltsin Tejeda scores his team's first goal against Germany. (Matthew Childs/Reuters)

Costa Rica has tied up its match with Germany at 1-1 with a goal from Yeltsin Tejeda.

The midfielder pounced on a deflection from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and drove the ball into the net in the 58th minute.

It was Tejeda's first international goal.

3:26 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

Japan stuns with a swift second goal!

Japan's Ao Tanaka celebrates after scoring his team's second goal. (Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Japan has a stunned with a swift second goal against Spain. Ao Tanaka helped capture the lead for the Blue Samurai in the 53rd minute of play.

At first, quick suspense followed because it was unclear if the ball was over the line — and hence out of play — before the goal happened, but it was allowed after a video assistant referee (VAR) review.

The tables have turned, and now it is Spain's turn to even the score.

Where things stand: Japan 2, Spain 1

3:09 p.m. ET, December 1, 2022

Japan is back in the game with its first goal!

Japan's Ritsu Doan scores his team's first goal against Spain. (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Japan has just scored its equalizer against Spain, and the team is still very much in the game, vying to go to the knockouts.

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