The race for a place in the World Cup last 16 reaches a climactic conclusion in Group E as Costa Rica and Germany go head to head at the Al Bayt Stadium on Thursday.
Hansi Flick's side currently sit bottom of the group after claiming one point from their opening two games and anything less than a victory in their final group outing will see them suffer a second successive group-stage exit.
Having suffered a disappointing opening-day defeat to rank outsiders Japan, Werder Bremen striker Niclas Fullkrug gave Die Mannschaft a glimmer of hope as he struck in the 83rd minute to force a 1-1 draw in last Sunday's game against group leaders Spain.
As for Costa Rica, they got their quest for a first knockout-stage appearance since 2014 back on track as they claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Japan when the sides met at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium last time out.
Four days on from their 7-0 thumping at the hands of Spain, Luis Fernando Suarez's side turned in a resilient team performance as Keysher Fuller netted with nine minutes on the board to hand Japan a narrow defeat.
Los Ticos now sit third in the group standings, one point off first-placed Spain, and victory on Thursday will guarantee their place in the last 16, while also condemning Germany to an early exit.
To do so, Costa Rica must avoid a repeat of the previous and only meeting between the sides, which came in the Group A opener of the 2006 World Cup, when Die Mannschaft stormed to a 4-2 victory at the Allianz Arena.
Miroslav Klose turned in a performance of the highest quality in that encounter as he scored twice and set up Philipp Lahm's sixth-minute opener, before Torsten Frings completed the rout with an 87th minute strike.
However, Suarez's side will draw inspiration from the fact that Germany have struggled to hit their stride as they head into Thursday winless in three of their last four matches, while managing just three wins in their 11 games this year.
COSTA RICA VS. GERMANY HEAD-TO-HEAD RECORD
Costa Rica wins: 0
Germany wins: 1
Draws: 0
Costa Rica goals: 2
Germany goals: 4
MATCH HISTORY
June 9, 2006: Costa Rica 2-4 Germany (FIFA World Cup)
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