Germany, champions in 2014, came into the Group E match at the Al Bayt Stadium knowing they needed a positive result to avoid an early exit from the tournament.

Dani Olmo hit the crossbar for Spain, via a touch from German keeper Manuel Neuer during a first half that saw both teams feeling each other out.

Spain, the 2010 winners, piled the pressure on their opponents by taking the lead just after the hour mark when Alvaro Morata touched home a fizzing cross from Jordi Alba.

What may prove to be a crucial equaliser came with seven minutes of normal time remaining as Germany substitute Niclas Fullkrug thumped home an effort to rescue a point.  

Elsewhere in the group Costa Rica claimed an unexpected victory against Japan, winning 1-0 courtesy of their first shot on target in the whole tournament.

Costa Rica recovered from a 7-0 loss to Spain in their opening game, by edging a game of few chances at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Al Rayyan.

The winner came with nine minutes of normal time remaining courtesy of Keysher Fuller, who lobbed Japanese keeper Shuichi Gonda from just inside the box.  

On a disappointing day for Japan, who sprung a surprise in their opening game by defeating Germany, their best efforts were a strike from Hidemasa Morita early in the second half, and a goalmouth scramble following an effort with two minutes to go from Daichi Kamada.

The second game of the day produced a shock in Group F, as Morocco beat Belgium, semi-finalists at the previous edition in Russia, 2-0 at the Al Thumama Stadium.

Morocco thought they had taken the lead in first half stoppage time when a free-kick from Hakim Ziyech went directly into the net, however Roman Saiss was ruled to be offside and the goal was ruled out.

The breakthrough came in similar fashion in the 73^rd minute as a free-kick from Abdelhamid Sabiri went directly into the goal past keeper Thibaut Courtois at his near post.

The Atlas Lions secured victory in added time in the second half when after a neat move Zakaria Aboukhlal finished from close range to make it 2-0. 

The upset win was Morocco’s first at a World Cup since they defeated Scotland in 1998, and was Belgium’s first group stage loss since 1994.

Elsewhere in the group 2018 runners-up Croatia survived an early scare as they came from behind to beat Canada 4-1.

Alphonso Davies scored the Canadians first goal of the tournament as his header gave the nation a shock lead in the second minute at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Croatia levelled in the 36^th minute through a nice strike from Andrej Kramaric on the left hand side of the penalty area, ten minutes after the same player had a goal ruled out for an offside in the build-up.

Marko Livaja fired Croatia into the lead just before the break with a strike from 20 yards before Kramaric’s second of the game in the 70^th minute sealed the win, as he cut inside and curled a shot into the net to make it 3-1.

Substitute Lovro Majer completed the scoring in stoppage time to complete a win that puts Croatia on the brink of the knockout stages having won their first two games, while also eliminating Canada.