By Aditi Sangal, Leighton Rowell, Matt Meyer and Maureen Chowdhury, CNN
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.
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.
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.
Minutes after Costa Rica took a 2-1 lead, Germany's Kai Havertz equalized to make it 2-2.
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.
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.
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
Japan has just scored its equalizer against Spain, and the team is still very much in the game, vying to go to the knockouts.
From CNN's Clint Alwahab and Issy Ronald
Stéphanie Frappart made history on Thursday as the first woman to referee a men’s World Cup match.
Alongside assistants Neuza Back from Brazil and Karen Diaz from Mexico, the French referee is part of an all-female refereeing trio currently officiating Costa Rica vs. Germany in their Group E match.
In 2019, Frappart became the first female referee to take charge of a Ligue 1 match; in August 2019, the first to take charge of a major men’s European match; and in 2020, the first to officiate a men’s UEFA Champions League match.
