One of the most complicated groups in this World Cup in Qatar 2022, if not the most, is Group E, which has two big teams such as Germany and Spain, the orderly and athletic Japan, and surprising Costa Rica.
Update
Germany
Germany lost in its premiere game and set off all sorts of alarms.
After leading Japan 1-0 with a goal by Ilkay Gündogan from a penalty, the Asian team came from behind in the last 15 minutes to win 1-2. In addition, Gundogan himself criticized his teammates after the game by telling the press that in the second half he saw several of his team without wanting to ask for the ball.
If Hans Flick’s team was already criticized before the World Cup, it is much more so now. Against Spain, it is at stake to stay alive in Qatar in 2022.
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In a great game, Germany rescued 1 point from the end in the 1-1 draw with Spain thanks to a goal by Niclas Füllkrug, 29, who had made his debut with the National Team 11 days ago in a friendly against Oman where he scored the goal of the win (1-0). The German team found themselves outclassed in the first half and it wasn’t until the Spanish scored the goal that they woke up. The entry of Leroy Sané was decisive, as well as that of Füllkrug, who is a different striker from Thomas Müller.
Hans Flick’s men are last in their group with 1 point, and they need to beat Costa Rica and help from Spain against Japan to be able to advance to the round of 16.
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Another surprise in Qatar! Germany is out of the World Cup! The Germans suffered more than necessary and beat Costa Rica 4-2, however, Japan beat Spain so they could not advance as they tied on points with the Spanish but lost on goal difference. Those led by Hans Flick played a very bad World Cup, losing first to Japan despite starting out winning (1-2), drawing in the final minutes with Spain (1-1), and beating Costa Rica in agony and even being down on the scoreboard (4-2). It is the second consecutive World Cup that they have been eliminated in the first round and it will surely be the last for Flick in Germany. One of the candidates leaves through the back door.
Spain
Spain, the National Team that was criticized for not scoring many goals in the qualifying rounds and the UEFA Nations League, came out on top in the World Cup and crushed Costa Rica 7-0, this being the Iberian team’s biggest win in the World Cups’ history. Ferran Torres (2), Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio, Gavi, Carlos Soler, and Álvaro Morata scored the goals for Luis Enrique’s kindergarten, who will surely continue to stream. The Spanish broke several records, such as having the youngest rookie to score a goal (Gavi) and automatically postulate as a strong candidate.
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Spain played very well against Germany, true to their style of possession, but victory eluded them late on. Luis Enrique’s team had several chances, but it wasn’t until Álvaro Morata, who had entered a few minutes earlier, scored after 62 minutes after defining an assist from Jordi Alba in a great way. After that, they could not stand the boost from Germany who went with everything in search of an equalizer and achieved it with less than 10 minutes to go, just after the entry of Alejandro Balde for Jordi Alba and precisely the play started on the side of the young Barcelona winger. Spain is first in the group with 4 points and would have to lose to Japan and Costa Rica beat Germany, or be thrashed and Germany also thrash Costa Rica, for not to advance to the round of 16.
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From more to less. That’s how it was for Spain. They qualified but suffered more than necessary. They started the World Cup by crushing Costa Rica 7-0 and everyone saw them as a great candidate, but against Germany, they equalized 1-1, and this Thursday they lost 1-2 to Japan, who snatched first place from them. Even for a moment, they were being eliminated since were falling to the Asian team and Costa Rica was beating Germany. However, the Bavarian team gave the Spanish a hand and they came back. If it wasn’t for that, Luis Enrique’s team would have been eliminated. Now they will face Morocco in the round of 16 in a game that will surely have a lot of controversy due to the political conflicts between the two neighboring countries.
Japan
Another big surprise. Japan showed off Captain Tsubasa (where Japan beat Germany) and defeated the Germans 2-1, turning the score around. The coach Hajime Moriyasu knew how to read the game and make the indicated changes, since Ritsu Doan and Takuma Asano (both players of the Bundesliga), who entered in the second half, were the scorers. This is one of the most important victories in the history of the Japanese team and now they hope to beat Costa Rica to seal their classification and give another big surprise.
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After their incredible victory against Germany, it seemed that Japan had done the most difficult thing and was going to qualify, but this Sunday they lost 1-0 to Costa Rica and now it got complicated since they must beat Spain in the last game or draw and expect a hand from Costa Rica against Germany. It was a bad game for the Japanese who could not overcome the resistance of Keylor Navas, and in Keysher Fuller’s goal, goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda, who had been a figure against Germany, was compromised.
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Another of the surprises of the World Cup. Japan managed to beat Germany and Spain, both 2-1 and after trailing. Great results for the Japanese team, which had left many doubts after their defeat against Costa Rica (1-0) in the second game, but they showed that it was just a bad day and that they are a team that should not be considered defeated until the last minute. They managed to surprise, top of the group, and eliminate a power like Germany. Now they will face Croatia, another great European team, but they already have experience.
Costa Rica
Costa Rica was one of the great disappointments of the first matchday, losing 7-0 to Spain. The Central American team did not show any resistance and did not get any shot at the Spanish goal, being very distant from the team that was in the Concacaf qualifiers. Those led by Luis Fernando Suárez showed that they have no arguments to face their group rivals and, despite having only played 1 game, they are already eliminated.
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Costa Rica is incredible. First, they fall to Spain in a humiliating 7-0, and then they beat Japan 1-0, who had beaten Germany 2-1, and remained alive in this World Cup. Now Luis Fernando Suárez’s team has to beat Germany, but they have to improve a lot, since against Spain they didn’t have one single shot, and against Japan, they only did it once, in Keysher Fuller’s goal. Keylor Navas was the figure making three key saves, and against Germany, it will surely happen again, so they have to improve in their defensive and offensive zone.
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Unlike Spain, these went from less to more. They were humiliated by the Spanish in the first game 7-0, but then they surprised and beat Japan 1-0 with only 1 shot on goal. Nobody gave a cent for them against Germany and, after losing the first half, they turned it around and were winning 2-1, even for a period they were qualifying for the round of 16, but then the Germans gave it again the return (2-4). The image they left in the match against Germany is undoubtedly what the Costa Rican fans want to see and they were able to say goodbye to the World Cup in a very good way.
Classifieds
Japan gave a big surprise in this group by beating Germany and Spain and taking first place. Spain suffered until the end but managed to keep second place, although it worries a lot, while Germany was a disappointment and went home early again. Costa Rica, after its lousy start, left a very good image at the end and leaves with its head held high.
World Cup Group E: Germany
One that is always a candidate in each World Cup in Germany. The four-time world champions arrive in Qatar hungry and with the obligation to clean up the terrible image they left in Russia in 2018, where they were the great disappointment of the tournament by finishing last in their group that they shared with Sweden, Mexico, and South Korea.
In addition, the ‘Teutons’ also had a very bad UEFA Nations League, where they finished third by only being able to beat Italy (5-2). Undoubtedly, very poor numbers contrast with their history and with their road to the World Cup, where they won 9 games and lost only 1, although it is true that they faced third and fourth-level teams.
Among the notable absences are those of Marco Reus and Timo Werner, who were injured in the last weeks. The loss of Reus hurts a lot, he was at a very good level and had already missed the 2014 World Cup due to injury, where they were champions, and the 2016 and 2020 European Championships.
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On the other hand, among the surprises of the call is the return of Mario Gotze, the hero of Brazil 2014, after more than 5 years of not playing with the Mannschaft. His good performances at PSV and Frankfurt earned him a call.
The other great news is the presence of the young Youssoufa Moukoko, who will turn 18 on November 20 and who is making history and breaking marks of precocity in the different categories of Borussia Dortmund and the German National Team. This season he has already scored 6 goals and given 4 assists.
Hans Flick will have the task of improving the image of Germany and himself because since his arrival he has been criticized for the team’s play.
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp
Defenders: Matthias Ginter, Antonio Rudiger, Niklas Sule, Nico Schlotterbeck, Thilo Kehrer, David Raum, Lukas Klostermann, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Christian Gunter
Midfielders: Ilkay Gundogan, Jonas Hofmann, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, Leroy Sane, Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, Thomas Muller, Julian Brandt, Mario Gotze
Forwards: Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Niclas Fullkrug, Karim Adeyemi
World Cup Group E: Spain
As expected, Luis Enrique gave a list with many controversies and was criticized for bringing players who are not at their best level into the clubs, and for leaving others who are having it and who have a lot of hierarchy. However, the coach has always turned a deaf ear to what they say and ensures that he uses whoever he thinks works for him.
The bastion of the team, according to Luis Enrique himself, will be Sergio Busquets. Although the Barcelona player is no longer at his best, the coach assures that ‘La Roja’ is going at the pace he sets. Among the notable absences are those of Thiago Alcántara (Liverpool), Sergio Ramos (Paris Saint Germain), Iago Aspas (Celta de Vigo), David de Gea (Manchester United), Sergio Canales (Betis) and Borja Iglesias (Betis).
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The most criticized have been the Barcelona players Eric García, Jordi Alba, Ansu Fati, and the Athletic Bilbao player, Nico Williams, who only has 2 games with the National Team. Regarding the results, despite not being liked, Luis Enrique’s Spain has been effective and advanced to the Final Four of the UEFA Nations League after an agonizing victory against Portugal (0-1), and they have only lost 1 of their last 10 games.
It is a team with a lot of youth where players like Pedri, despite being 19 years old, is called to be the one with the ideas in the team and to lead the offensive.
Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, Robert Sanchez, David Raya.
Defenders: Dani Carvajal, Cesar Azpilicueta, Eric Garcia, Hugo Guillamon, Pau Torres, Aymeric Laporte, Jordi Alba, Jose Gaya.
Midfielders: Sergio Busquets, Rodri, Gavi, Carlos Soler, Marcos Llorente, Pedri, Koke.
Forwards: Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, Yeremi Pino, Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio, Pablo Sarabia, Dani Olmo, Ansu Fati.
World Cup Group E: Japan
True to its style and order, Japan was the first team to deliver the squad and to settle in Qatar. The Asian team qualified for their seventh World Cup, all consecutively, and will seek to overcome the round of 16 for the first time, which they have reached 3 times.
Currently, many players play or have played in Europe, such as Yuto Nagatomo (former Inter Milan), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal), Hidemasa Morita (Sporting Lisboa) or Ritsu Doan (Freiburg), to name a few. However, three players on the offensive end will undoubtedly give the team a lot, and those are Daichi Kamada (Frankfurt), Takumi Minamino (Monaco), and Takefusa Kubo (Real Sociedad).
The order and work of the team added to the quality of these players at a great time who are figuring in their clubs.
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They had a great tie, finishing second in their group behind Saudi Arabia with 7 wins, 1 draw, and 2 losses. The ‘Samurais’ continue their constant growth and with several players in the German league, they hope to surprise the two favorites of the group.
Goalkeepers: Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt, Eiji Kawashima.
Defenders: Miki Yamane, Hiroki Sakai, Maya Yoshida, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Hiroki Ito, Yuto Nagatomo.
Midfielders: Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita, Ao Tanaka, Gaku Shibasaki, Kaoru Mitoma, Daichi Kamada, Ritsu Doan, Junya Ito, Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo, Yuki Soma.
Forwards: Daizen Maeda, Takuma Asano, Shuto Machino, Ayase Ueda.
World Cup Group E: Costa Rica
Costa Rica will play it’s third consecutive World Cup and fifth of the last six, showing that they are already one of the powers in Concacaf. Although in 2014 they surprised by reaching the quarterfinals despite sharing a group with Uruguay, Italy, and England, eliminating the latter two, in 2018 they were not so lucky and fell in the first round.
However, the team is not very convincing to the Costa Ricans themselves. Without great figures, the only player of renown is Kaylor Navas, and they hope that Joel Campbell shows some of that talent that brought him to Arsenal about 10 years ago. For the rest, coach Luis Fernando Suárez will have a fairly combative group that will appeal to their physical condition to beat their rivals.
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The Ticos advanced to the World Cup after finishing fourth in their tie, and beating New Zealand in the playoffs 1-0 with a goal from Campbell after 3 minutes.
Among the biggest criticisms received by Suárez for the call is the one of striker Johan Venegas and leaving out the young Aarón Suárez.
Goalkeepers: Keylor Navas, Esteban Alvarado, Patrick Sequeira.
Defenders: Francisco Calvo, Juan Pablo Vargas, Kendall Waston, Oscar Duarte, Daniel Chacon, Keysher Fuller, Carlos Martinez, Bryan Oviedo, Ronald Matarrita.
Midfielders: Yeltsin Tejeda, Celso Borges, Youstin Salas, Roan Wilson, Gerson Torres, Douglas Lopez, Jewison Bennette, Alvaro Zamora, Anthony Hernandez, Brandon Aguilera, Bryan Ruiz.
Forwards: Joel Campbell, Anthony Contreras, Johan Venegas.
Classifieds
We believe that Germany will qualify first, but that Spain and Japan will fight for second place and the duel between them will be key. Costa Rica this time will not surprise and will probably be last in the group.
Fixture Schedule
Wed, Nov. 23 Germany vs. Japan 8 a.m.
Wed, Nov. 23 Spain vs. Costa Rica 11 a.m.
Sun, Nov. 27 Japan vs. Costa Rica 5 a.m.
Sun, Nov. 27 Spain vs. Germany 2 p.m.
Thurs, Dec. 1 Japan vs. Spain 2 p.m.
Thurs, Dec. 1 Costa Rica vs. Germany 2 p.m.
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