Spain 1-1 Germany: Super subs Morata and Fullkrug, technical quality and a very high line…

It might still be a final too — if Germany do manage to squeeze through after their final game against Costa Rica.

Where does this result leave Germany?

Jeanes: To go through Germany must beat Costa Rica. If that happens they will be on four points and will go through if Japan lose to Spain.

If Japan and Spain draw, then Germany and Japan will be level on four points and second place will be decided on goal difference. Japan currently hold a one-goal advantage.

In theory, Germany could still go through if Japan beat Spain, but given Spain’s superb goal difference that is highly unlikely.

The impact of Morata and Fullkrug

Al Baharna: Spain taking the lead would not have been possible without Morata, and that’s not because he was the one to make the shot — instead, it’s because he is one of the few, if not only, Spain forward that makes those runs into the box. 

Not only does he begin behind and to the blindside of a Germany centre-back before quickly accelerating to get on the end of Alba’s ground cross. And it’s twice now he has scored straight off the bench, extending his perfect record to two goals in two appearances at this World Cup.  

It was an excellent rotation on the left. And while Pedri wasn’t involved on the ball, he had his say in Spain’s goal, using his intelligence off the ball and dragging Serge Gnabry out to create space. Olmo pulling Thilo Kehrer inside is what made Jordi Alba’s cross possible in the first place. 

This goal could not have been more reflective of both the dynamism and discipline of Luis Enrique’s side. 

At the other end of the pitch, Fullkrug was not the player you might have expected to change the scoreline, but that he did. It was only his third appearance at the age of 29, but one he will never forget after helping keep Germany’s hopes alive. 

And while he only came off the bench in the 69th minute, he recorded the most shots (three) of any player on the pitch.

Spain had a huge gap in the central spaces of their backline and Leroy Sane, another substitute, made sure he was there to exploit it, providing a pinpoint pass through their midfield to find Musiala. As Musiala controlled it and settled it down, Fullkrug ran in tandem to fire the ball into the top corner of the net. 

Rodri’s role at centre-back

Corrigan: The logic behind playing the Manchester City midfielder Rodri at centre-back against Costa Rica in Spain’s opener was that he would have little real defending to do — but that did not really follow this time as Germany were always going to pose a much bigger threat in attack.

Rodri again handled the role in the middle of Spain’s back four quite impressively. In possession he showed his usual calm and intelligence, helping Spain to build out from the back. He got his head to a dangerous cross ahead of Thomas Muller midway through the first half, and kept his place in the high line which regularly caught German attackers offside. He also kept his wits about him to put Leroy Sane’s late cross behind for a corner as Germany threatened in the final minute. 

It was not a perfect defensive display — he also just about got away with it when Niclas Fullkrug snuck in front of him near the penalty spot as Germany pressed at 1-0 down. He was also unable to stop Jamal Musiala from turning away from him to set up Fullkrug’s late equaliser.

But generally Rodri did very well, and it now looks unlikely that Eric Garcia or Pau Torres are going to replace him in the XI.

The midfield battle 

Al Baharna: Whatever shape Germany seemingly set up to counter Spain’s magnetic use of the ball, they were dragged out of it constantly both in and out of possession by the likes of Gavi and Pedri. 

Where they defended in a 4-2-3-1, their plan in midfield was to allow Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to disrupt Spain’s possession, but they were often pulled out of the game. Spain either overloaded the left and isolated on the right to play around Germany’s man-marking, or simply played through them, negating their pressure. Goretzka and Kimmich picking up successive yellow cards didn’t help matters either. 

That’s not to say Germany didn’t have their moments in the game. Musiala was a wonder in midfield — it could even be said he was one of the few sparks in this ordinary showing. His close control either won Germany set pieces — where they created their most threat — or allowed them to evade the Spanish defenders and move upfield quicker. And that is exactly how he set up Fullkrug for the German equaliser.

Olmo the unsung hero

Rutzler: Luis Enrique clearly likes Dani Olmo. When he is available the Spanish coach tends to pick him and it is performances like this one that underline why.

Olmo is a tactically intelligent player who is capable of playing across the frontline, as outlined in The Radar. He can make direct runs or drop into the pockets and thread needle passes, like any No 10. He has the Barcelona schooling, having played for the club’s academy until aged 16, and has added the pressing that is so lauded at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

He has overcome fitness concerns to make this tournament and that has been good news for Spain. Against Germany, in the first half, he was Spain’s most threatening player.

He forced Manuel Neuer into a world-class stop from distance, and then created Spain’s best chance, scurrying down the line with a clever run between Antonio Rudiger and behind Thilo Kehrer, and then squaring for Ferran Torres, who should have scored.

That was one of two chances he created. It was no surprise too that Olmo had a hand in the opening goal; playing the pass for Jordi Alba to attack before he fizzed the cross into the box for Morata to score. He and Alba have built an excellent understanding, with Olmo’s out to in movements opening up the space that Alba craves.

Much has been made of the Barcelona influence on this Spanish team, and indeed the young starlets who are rightly receiving the plaudits.

But out on the left hand side is Olmo, the former Barcelona player who is quietly but consistently reliable, and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Spain’s very (very) high line at set pieces

Rutzler: Spain are pretty hard to stop in open play. But how about set pieces?

Luis Enrique’s side are not exactly blessed with much height. And to compound that, they prefer to use midfielders in central defence (Rodri, for what it’s worth, has performed admirably).

But it does potentially leave them exposed. On the day, from the starting line-ups, Germany had six players six foot or over. Spain? Four: Ferran Torres, Rodri, Busquets and Aymeric Laporte.

Around the box, Germany were constantly picking up little fouls off Spain’s midfield trio. The aim? To test out Spain’s defence at set pieces.

But it turns out, Spain have a solution. What they lack in height, and recognisable defenders, they make up for in very (very) high defensive lines.

In the first half, Antonio Rudiger was denied the opening goal by an offside, which was caught by VAR after a well-held Spanish line. In the second half, Spain stepped right up the pitch for a free kick on 50 minutes and remarkably, caught every German attacker offside.

Next time around, Germany tried to start their runs from deeper. But the ball was too long.

Of course, from corners, offsides are not in play but Spain resolved this by… trying not to give too many away. Germany’s first arrived on 57 minutes, and the delivery was poor, easily cleared by Morata. Their follow ups as the game edged to a conclusion were little better, and Spain managed to deal with the threat.

Germany failed to exploit a potential set-play weakness. But it’s clear Spain are working on solutions. If they can keep their high line discipline, then it may be tricky for opponents to exploit them.

(Photo: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)