Kai Havertz and Cesar Azpilicueta both watched on from the bench as Germany and Spain played out a 1-1 draw in Qatar to ensure they both go into the final group stage game with a chance of qualifying from Group E.
Spain dominated the game but Hansi Flick’s Germany showed real determination to stay in the game and in the end they leave with a point which could prove vital as they bid to qualify for the knockout stage.
With Havertz and Azpi both unused substitutes for this clash, both will hope to feature in the final round of group stage fixtures on Thursday – Germany face Costa Rica while Spain take on Japan.
The game started brightly, with Spain dominating the possession and looking the more likely to find a breakthrough.
Dani Olmo went close to opening the scoring after, after a well-worked Spain move saw the ball switched to the winger who cut inside before striking at goal that Manuel Neuer pushed onto the crossbar.
Later Jordi Alba tried his luck from distance with a speculative shot that had Neuer scrambling across his line but was thankful the effort flashed wide of the bottom corner.
Spain were controlling the game, with almost 70 per cent of the possession highlighting their dominance, but they couldn’t find a breakthrough. Ferran Torres should have scored when meeting a low Marcos Asensio cross but the Barcelona man fired over.
Former Chelsea defender Antonio Rudiger thought he had broken the deadlock as the clocked ticked into the 41st minute but the defender’s header past Unai Simon was chalked off by VAR for straying offside before meeting Joshua Kimmich’s cross.
The Real Madrid man then saw an effort palmed away by Simon three minutes later, after lashing at goal from the right-hand side of the box as the sides went in goalless at the break.
Germany started stronger after the break as they searched for an opener but it was Spain who broke the deadlock, with Morata netting the opener just after the hour mark.
The former Chelsea striker got in front of Niklas Sule to flick Jordi Alba’s low cross past Neuer to send the Spanish fans into wild celebrations.
The Germans needed a goal to keep their World Cup hopes alive and almost did just that through Jamal Musiala, who beat the offside trap to latch onto Leroy Sane’s pass but his effort was stopped by Simon who stood tall.
However,r they did pull level with seven minutes remaining, as substitute Niclas Fullkrug came off the bench to fire home. The Werder Bremen striker latched onto a Musiala pass before swivelling and striking beyond Simon.
Germany then pushed for a winner, peppering the Spain goal with shots, but ultimately Simon’s net wasn’t breached again and both sides had to settle for a point apiece.