When they were right up against it, they found a way.
That is what the Germans normally do in World Cups as they lived to fight another day after a dramatic heavyweight contest at the Al Bayt Stadium. Up stepped Germany substitute Niclas Fullkrug as the unlikely hero to fire a late equaliser and take it to the final Group match.
Germany boss Hansi Flick will have to get his calculator ready but the reality is they have Costa Rica up next and the odds are stacked heavily in their favour to squeeze through. And at least they avoided the same humiliating early exit of four years ago when, as holders, they crashed out in the group stage.
Werder Bremen striker Fullkrug, 29, perhaps epitomises the state of German football right now as he was a late call-up for the World Cup and became the oldest outfield player to make his debut for 20 years. Does that smack of desperation? Probably. But this is a far cry from the glory days when the four-time winners would have their hotel booked right up until the final.
Instead, Spain again produced a dazzling passing display in which they tied Germany up in knots but just could not produce the finishing touch as they had done in their seven-goal demolition of Costa Rica. They had all the pretty approach play, created plenty of chances and yet they also had to rely on a substitute, former Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata, to put them ahead.
Atletico Madrid striker Morata forgot how to score during a disastrous time at Stamford Bridge but he scored against Costa Rica and again this time. But, make no mistake, if there is one thing that will stop Spain from wining the World Cup, then it is their finishing touch because they have everything else.
They are beautiful to watch, Pedri and Gavi are their future and they have built a new generation primed for success. Spain have also marked themselves down as potential winners in a wide-open tournament which has already seen more than its fair share of shock results.
Another one, Costa Rica beating Japan, perhaps took the sense of jeopardy out of this game and meant even defeat would not automatically eliminate Germany. But there was also no sympathy from Spain, who started where they left off against Costa Rica as they dominated possession, put together lovely moves but just could not finish.
Germany keeper Manuel Neuer made a super save to deny Dani Olmo while Ferran Torres was grateful to see an offside flag spare his blushes when he made a horrible miss before half-time.
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Antonio Rudiger thought he had scored until VAR intervened but Spain upped the tempo after half-time and on came Morata for Torres and they broke the deadlock after 62 minutes.
Jordi Alba put over a low cross from the left, Morata ghosted onto the ball and fired into the roof of the net at the near post.
Germany stormed back, they threw on 6'2" battering ram Fullkrug and he latched onto Jamal Musiala’s clever play and smashed home.
Both sides had chances to win it but a draw means they could both easily reach the knockout stages.
