November 27, 2022 coverage of the World Cup

Our live coverage has ended for the day. Read more about Spain and Germany's big match here, or scroll through the updates below for more on today's action.

Every Group E team has a chance to advance to the Round of 16 heading in to the final group stage match. 

For Germany to move on, they must defeat Costa Rica in their final group game.

A German win coupled with a Japanese loss against Spain would put Germany through.

Should Germany win and Japan tie Spain, goal differential would break a tie in the standings between Germany and Japan. Japan has a one goal edge in that category, as of Sunday.

Costa Rica can advance with a win against Germany. They won't be favored, but we've seen underdogs win plenty already in Qatar.

Spain is sitting in the driver's seat — it sits atop the standings with four points. It also has a huge lead in goal difference, in the case its game ended in a draw or a loss.

Remember: "Goal differential" or "goal difference," the standings tiebreaker referenced above, is a simple calculation: The total number of goals a team has scored, minus the number of goals it has allowed.

The top two teams from each group move on to the single-elimination Round-of-16, or "knockout stage," of the tournament.

Today's marquee matchup ended in a 1-1 tie between Germany and Spain, the former World Cup winners.

The two entered the game in very different positions, with Spain atop the Group E standings after a 7-0 drubbing of Costa Rica. Meanwhile, Germany was at the bottom of the standings and trying to bounce back from a shock loss to Japan.

Even with the draw, Spain remains well in control of its fate with four points, alone atop the group.

Germany still has life with one point, but has a lot of work to do in its next match against Costa Rica.

Match recap:

This one went into the half deadlocked at 0-0.

In the 7th minute, Spain's Dani Olmo rifled an attempt from the edge of the 18-yard box. But his shot was pushed off the underside of the bar by German goalie Manuel Neuer. It was the closest La Roja came to breaking the deadlock in the early going.

Germany appeared to take the lead when Antonio Rüdiger headed one home from a free kick in the 39th minute. But the Germans were ruled offside and the goal was crossed off.

In the second half, Germany came out pressing as they fought for their World Cup lives.

Spain had trouble getting out of its own half in the early minutes of the second period. In the 49th minute, Germany earned a free kick in a dangerous spot but wasted the opportunity. In the 55th minute, a costly turnover forced Spanish goalie Unai Simón into an outstretched save on a Joshua Kimmich shot.

Coming off the bench, Álvaro Morata became the difference-maker for La Roja.

In the 62nd minute, the 30-year-old Spanish striker found the back of the net to break the deadlock and give Spain the 1-0 lead.

Germany made a valiant effort to get the goal back. In the 70th minute, Jamal Musiala had a great chance to equalize for Germany from point break range. But Simon stood tall to make the block and keep the Germans out.

Finally, 20 minutes after Spain took the lead, Germany broke through. In the 82nd minute, Niclas Füllkrug beat Simon and squared the match late.

No one scored in the little time remaining despite a few promising chances, and the two teams ended in a deadlock.

Niclas Füllkrug beat Spain's goaltender Unai Simón in the 83rd minute to make it 1-1.

Spain has broken through and found a way!

Coming off the bench, 30-year-old striker Álvaro Morata gets the goal for La Roja in the 62nd minute.

We're back underway in the final World Cup match of the day.

Spain 0, Germany 0.

If this morning's match between Costa Rica and Japan had ended as expected, this game between Spain and Germany would have carried higher immediate stakes for both sides.

Instead, Costa Rica pulled off a stunning upset. Now, the fate of these two former World Cup winners will not be sealed this evening.

Here's how it's looking in Group E, according to FIFA:

Spain cannot mathematically clinch a Round of 16 berth even if they win because of Costa Rica's victory.

A win or even a draw would leave La Roja in great position, though. The team entered play with three points and sits atop the group with a huge goal difference advantage. (Remember, that's the standings tiebreaker based on the total number of goals scored, minus the number of goals allowed.)

Germany cannot be eliminated even if they lose, again, because of Costa Rica's unlikely win.

A loss would put the Germans in a very tough position, though, as they enter play at the bottom of the Group E standings. If they can fight to a draw and muster at least one point, they'll be in better position heading into their next match as favorites against Costa Rica (though we've seen plenty of favorites fall in this tournament).

Obviously, a win is the best-case scenario and will shake up the group standings ahead of the all-important final round of games.

Remember: The top two teams from each group move on to the single-elimination Round-of-16, or "knockout stage," of the tournament.

It's all knotted at 0-0 halfway through Spain vs Germany.

Big scoring chances have been hard to come by in this tight affair between two highly-ranked powerhouses of the sport.

In the 7th minute, Spain's Dani Olmo rifled an attempt from the edge of the 18-yard box. But his shot was pushed off the underside of the bar by German goalie Manuel Neuer. It was the closest La Roja came to breaking the deadlock.

On the other end, Germany's Serge Gnabry created a nervous moment for Spain later in the first half when he took an errant clearance from goaltender Unai Simon at the edge of the box, but his shot sailed wide.

Germany appeared to take the lead when Antonio Rüdiger headed one home from a free kick in the 39th minute. But the Germans were ruled offside and the goal was crossed off.

Spain has dominated possession as they are wont to do. But Germany's press has looked threatening at times. Surely, there's at least a goal in here somewhere!

The two teams currently sit at either side of the table in Group E, with Spain at the top and Germany at the bottom. Spain can't mathematically clinch its spot in the next round tonight, and Germany cannot technically be eliminated.

In the 39th minute, Germany's Antonio Rüdiger headed one home from a free kick. But the Germans were ruled offside and the goal was crossed off.

It's still 0-0 late in the 1st half.