Group E Predictions 2022
Group E promises to be one of the most entertaining and exciting at this year’s Cup. It contains two former and potential winners in Spain and Germany, both of whom will be disappointed not to make the semi-finals at least. Japan will hope to reach the knockouts at the expense of one of the European giants, but Costa Rica look set to struggle in the group of death.
Here is our view of Group E, including an analysis of all four teams and our predictions for what might happen.
Spain
Record
Spain were once known as the World Cup’s great underachievers. Debutants in 1934 when they reached the quarter-finals, la Roja finished fourth at the 1950 edition of the tournament, but then never got beyond the last eight before they finally lifted the trophy in 2010.
That team, which contained the likes of Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta, Iker Casillas and Sergio Busquets, is widely regarded as one of the best in World Cup history. Iniesta’s extra-time goal in the final earned Spain a 1-0 victory over the Netherlands in Johannesburg.
Players to watch
Pedri might only be 19 years old, but he is already a key player for club and country. The Barcelona midfielder is a guaranteed starter for Spain when fit, and he is among the favourites to be crowned Young Player of the Tournament in Qatar.
Ansu Fati, another young talent at Barcelona, will be relied upon for speed, skill and directness in the final third – especially as Spain lack players in his mould. Curiously, Rodri is unlikely to be in the starting XI despite being the best holding midfielder in the world at club level, with Busquets set to get the nod instead.
Highlights from qualifying
Spain finished top of their European qualification group, winning six and drawing one of their eight encounters. Luis Enrique’s side actually got off to a stuttering start, drawing 1-1 with Greece and losing 2-1 to Sweden in their first four outings, but soon got back on track.
The highlight was probably a 4-0 thrashing of Georgia last September, with Spain storming into a 3-0 lead at the interval. Most of their other wins in the group were by narrow margins.
Costa Rica
Record
Costa Rica made their maiden World Cup appearance in 1990 and they did more than just make up the numbers. Seen as rank outsiders before a ball was kicked in Italy, los Ticos beat Scotland and Sweden to reach the last 16, where they were eliminated by Czechoslovakia.
Costa Rica went out in the group phase in 2002 and 2006, before reaching the quarter-finals at Brazil 2014 – a remarkable achievement given they were drawn in the group of death alongside England, Italy and Uruguay. They did not make it into the knockouts in 2018.
Players to watch
Several members of Costa Rica’s golden generation from the 2014 World Cup remain in the squad, including the 35-year-old goalkeeper Keylor Navas. The PSG shot-stopper will certainly be kept busy by the attackers of Spain, Germany and Japan.
Celso Borges, who is also in his mid-30s and has won more than 150 caps for his country, remains an important figure in the centre of the park. Up front, the 22-year-old Anthony Contreras will need to be clinical with any chances that come his way.
Highlights from qualifying
Three teams in the CONCACAF region qualify for the World Cup automatically, and Costa Rica only narrowly missed out on securing one of those berths: they finished level on points with third-placed United States but had an inferior goal difference, despite beating the Americans 2-0 on the final matchday.
A goal from Joel Campbell in the third minute was enough to give Costa Rica a 1-0 victory over New Zealand in an inter-confederation play-off, which was held in Qatar over the summer.
Germany
Record
Only Brazil have won more World Cups than Germany, whose shirt is adorned with four stars to indicate their four triumphs. The first came in 1954, when die Nationalelf shocked a great Hungary team to win 3-2 in the final, despite falling 2-0 behind within eight minutes.
West Germany next lifted the trophy 20 years later, when they again beat a more fancied side – this time the Netherlands – in the final. They were champions for a third time in 1990, before their most recent success at Brazil 2014.
Players to watch
Jamal Musiala was not a guaranteed starter for either Bayern Munich or Germany 12 months ago, but it is now hard to imagine either team playing without him. He will play in one of the attacking midfield roles, with another set to be filled by the experienced and ultra-reliable Thomas Muller.
Antonio Rudiger is one of the world’s top centre-backs and is an automatic pick for Hansi Flick in the heart of the defence. Bayern midfielder Joshua Kimmich is another valuable player for Germany.
Highlights from qualifying
Germany made light work of their opponents in their World Cup qualification group, winning nine of their 10 games to take top spot in style. Their only defeat was an ignominious one, as North Macedonia won 2-1 in Duisburg, but that came before Flick replaced Joachim Low in the dugout.
Germany went on to administer a few thrashings: 6-0 against Armenia, 4-0 against Iceland and North Macedonia, and 9-0 against Liechtenstein. In total they scored 36 goals in 10 matches.
Japan
Record
Japan are one of nine teams that has competed at every World Cup since 1998. That was their debut appearance and proved to be a valuable learning experience despite the group stage exit. Co-hosts alongside South Korea in 2002, the Samurai Blue topped their group ahead of Belgium, Russia and Tunisia, but lost in the round of 16 to Turkey.
Japan have twice been back to the knockout stage, in 2010 and 2018. They gave Belgium a major scare by going 2-0 up in the last 16 four years ago, but the European side mounted a thrilling comeback to win 3-2.
Players to watch
Takumi Minamino’s time at Liverpool did not really work out, but the technically gifted schemer still has a big role to play in this Japan team. He will probably start on the left flank, with the pacey Junya Ito stationed on the other side of the attack.
Takehiro Tomiyasu often plays at right-back for Arsenal but will be used as a central defender in Qatar. In the centre of midfield, Wataru Endo excels at making penetrating, incisive passes forward.
Highlights from qualifying
Japan boasted a 100 percent record in their first group of the Asian qualification process, winning home and away against Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Myanmar. They then secured a top-two place in their final six-team group, qualifying automatically for Qatar alongside Saudi Arabia.
The highlights of their campaign were a 2-0 victory over Saudi Arabia in Saitama, and a 2-0 win against Australia in Sydney.
Key matches
Spain vs Germany on November 27 might be the standout match of the entire group phase, with the winner of that encounter likely to take control of Group E. But there is also plenty of intrigue in Germany vs Japan (November 23) and Japan vs Spain (December 1), either of which could contain a surprise result.
Group prediction
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Japan
4. Costa Rica
