Key events
For those already criticising Frappart’s appointment, Derek Rae, ESPN’s lead Bundesliga commentator, has a concise response.
Still dinosaurs popping up on the timeline talking about “woke” decisions to appoint Stephanie Frappart. Never watched Ligue 1, the Champions League, international football? Appointed because of good performances, just as Bibiana Steinhaus was for years in the Bundesliga.
— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) December 1, 2022
Frappart set to make history
Whatever else happens this evening, Stéphanie Frappart will mark an important milestone. She is about to become the first female referee to take charge of a men’s World Cup match, leading an all-female officiating team alongside assistants Neuza Back and Karen Díaz Medina.
Germany team news
… and here’s Flick’s starting XI.
Costa Rica team news
Here’s how Luis Fernando Suárez’s side line up this evening.
Preamble
Well, well, well. If it isn’t Germany having an existential crisis at the World Cup, again. Hansi Flick’s side come into this match bottom of Group E after a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan and a dicey 1-1 draw against Spain, meaning they need a win here – and a sympathetic result between Japan and Spain – to avoid going out at the group stage in a repeat of Russia 2018. Costa Rica could make for tricky opponents, having beaten Japan 1-0, or they could be utterly rubbish, having lost 7-0 to Spain. It’s honestly hard to say.
