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2022 World Cup: Group E Analysis

Two Title Contenders Lead the Way

Group of Death?

Once the 2022 World Cup draw ended, I selected Group F as the Group of Death, but some others chose Group E. I can totally see why; Spain and Germany are among the betting online favorites to dethrone France, while Japan and Costa Rica are two feisty underdogs that have advanced to the Round of 16 more than once. Luckily for us, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out if Group E lives up to expectations, as the WC begins on November 20 and Group E action begins on November 23.

Let’s check the latest World Cup picks, stats, injury reports, and World Cup predictions. We’ve plenty of World Cup expert picks for you to consider.

2022 World Cup: Group E Analysis
Japan's national football team / karim sahib / afp

Japan

The Blue Samurai don’t get tired of running. They simply don’t. Plus, they’re one of the most disciplined teams in the tournament. They had no trouble winning Group F in the second round of the AFC qualifiers. In fact, they did it with a perfect 8-0-0 record, 46 goals for and only two against. Things were a bit more complicated in the third and final round, but they still managed to finish 7-1-2, with 12 goals for and only four against, enough to win a direct ticket to Qatar.

Japan is offering a +1400 price to win the group, but they would settle for finishing in second place. With Daichi Kamada, Takumi Minamino, and Takefusa Kubo leading the way, don’t be surprised if they do. The three of them are the perfect trio to play on the counterattack.

The Blue Samurai will make their debut on November 23 against Germany.

Costa Rica

As expected, Los Ticos come in as huge soccer betting underdogs. They’re offering a +5000 price to win the group, but hey, they already won the Group of Death in the 2014 edition. Plus, this will be the last dance for Bryan Ruiz, one of the best players in team history. Honoring him with a good performance can serve as an extra dose of motivation for the entire squad.

Los Ticos will heavily rely on the counterattack. Jewison Bennett, Joel Campbell, and Anthony Contreras will lead the attack. All three are speedy, skillful players. On the other hand, Keylor Navas, one of the best goalkeepers in recent years, will lead the defensive unit.

La Sele will also debut on November 23 against Spain.

Spain

Don’t expect to watch Sergio Ramos since Luis Enrique, Spain’s manager, didn’t include him on the 26-man squad. That doesn’t mean Spain won’t have a competitive team, but it will be led by younger players, including Pedri, Gavi, and Ansu Fati. Those three led the team to finish as the runner-up in the 2020-21 UEFA Nations League. They also led the team to the 2020 EURO semifinals. That’s why La Roja comes in as the favorite to win the group at -120.

Finishing the qualifiers 6-1-1 with 15 goals for and only five against also has much to do with that. The thing is that Spain won the WC in 2010 but failed to advance beyond the Round of 16 since.

2022 World Cup: Group E Analysis
Spain Players – miguel riopa / afp

Germany

Germany also opted for a younger team, including Borussia Dortmund’s striker Youssoufa Moukoko, who’s only 17 years old. That’s why you won’t see Toni Kroos or Mats Hummels. Regarding the veterans, Thomas Muller and Mario Gotze, who scored the winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 final, will be leading the way.

Germany, who finished the qualifiers 9-0-1, with 36 goals for and only four against, is offering a +110 price to win the group. In other words, if you were looking for an underdog to include in your soccer picks during the Group Stage, Germany is a great option.

Bottom Line

No chance for a stunner here, at least not from Japan and Costa Rica. Nevertheless, I do think Germany will end up winning the group. We’re talking about a team that reached the semifinals in four of the last five editions. Rosters change, but mentality doesn’t. Yes, in 2018, they didn’t even make it out of the Group Stage, but that is precisely what makes them even more dangerous because they’re thirsty for revenge. Germany and Spain will advance to the Round of 16. In case you were wondering, Germany and Spain will collide on November 27.

“The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.”

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