FIFA

While the 2018 exit in Russia was seen as a coincidental accident, the devastating performance four years later in Qatar revealed profound omissions on several stages; not to speak of the early exit in the last 16-round at the Euro 2020. Fundamental changes seem inevitable and include talent education and the will to open up to modern football's requirements. Germany's reputation as a football nation suffered enormous damage, reports Xinhua.

"It may sound strange, but we played well in the first half, but they came out in the second. It is something we have to correct, but the main thing is that we have qualified," commented Luis Enrique. "It's obvious that we would have liked to qualify by winning this match, but we are in the last 16," he added.

When the kick off of the last and concluding match of the Group E, French referee Stephanie Frappart entered the record books as the first woman to take charge of a FIFA World Cup match. Her appointment was announced by the tournament organisers on Tuesday and means the 38-year-old match official will take her place in the history of the game.

"The boys who have come in today have done well, but we always think about the team," said the coach. "We have 26 players who can play, we have had changes and injuries and it helps knowing that who comes into the side can help. We have alternatives and all of them offer something different. "We are satisfied with the game. It wasn't easy due to the context of facing a team that would qualify with a draw or a win.

France started the World Cup in fine fashion, picking up six points from their first two games and scoring six goals in the process but finished as group leaders ahead of Australia. France, who had already qualified for the knock-out stage with two wins, ended up top despite making nine changes and producing a poor performance.

At the Janoub Stadium on Wednesday, Australia defended their 1-0 goal with some last-ditch defending to finish with six points from three matches for one loss and two wins, the same number of wins and points as France. The defending champions however finished as group leaders ahead of Australia on account of a better goal difference, incidentally Australia had lost to France 4-1 in their opening group match.

The hosts were playing their last match in this World Cup as they were eliminated from the tournament after losing their first two group matches in the early group stages. Cody Gakpo scored the first goal of the match for the visitors as the hosts tried to stave off multiple attacks by the Dutch side right from the first minute when Memphis Depay's shot missed the goal on the right.

On Tuesday night at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium after a barren first half, the English strikers went on a goal scoring spree notching three goals within a span of 18 minutes. Manchester United striker Rashford started the scoring in the 50th and added his second one in the 68th minute, in between Manchester city's Foden scored in the 51st minute.

England disappointed in their last group game against the U.S., struggling to open up an aggressive and energetic American side, and coach Gareth Southgate will be looking for a big improvement on Tuesday. Their 6-2 win against Iran means England's goal difference should be enough to see them into the next round, but a defeat would be a huge confidence blow for the side and the coach.

Spain were close to an impressive win thanks to Alvaro Morata's 62nd-minute goal, which would have all but assured their place in the last 16. However, Niclas Fullkrug grabbed a vital 83rd-minute equalizer for the Germans to and the match ended in a 1-1 draw.. The result means Spain need a point against Japan to assure their progress into the next round, while Germany have to beat Costa Rica and hope that Japan don't beat Spain in the last group game.