World Cup Qatar 2022 Preview: Group E

Image credit: History of Soccer

By: Anthony Tazbaz

Group Schedule

• Match Week 1

  • Wednesday, November 23: Germany vs Japan, Khalifa International Stadium, 8:00 EST

  • Wednesday, November 23: Spain vs Costa Rica, Al Thumama Stadium, 11:00 EST

• Match Week 2

  • Sunday, November 27: Japan vs Costa Rica, Ahmed bin Ali Stadium, 5:00 EST

  • Sunday, November 27: Spain vs Germany, Al Bayt Stadium, 14:00 EST

• Match Week 3

  • Thursday, December 1: Japan vs Spain, Khalifa International Stadium, 14:00 EST

  • Thursday, December 1: Costa Rica vs Germany, Al Bayt Stadium, 14:00 EST

Countries

Costa Rica

Nickname: Los Ticos

Head Coach: Luis Fernando Suárez

Players to Watch

• Joel Campbell (30): Forward, Club Léon

• Anthony Contreras (22): Forward, C.S. Herediano

• Keylor Navas (35): Goalkeeper, Paris Saint-Germain

Qualification Run

• Round 3: 7W, 4D, 3L – 25 PTS and 4th place in CONCACAF, advances to the Inter-confederation Play-off

• Inter-confederation Play-off: Costa Rica 1-0 New Zealand

Germany

Nickname: Die Mannschaft (“The Team”)

Head Coach: Hansi Flick

Players to Watch

• Serge Gnabry (27): Forward, Bayern Munich

• Jamal Musiala (19): Forward, Bayern Munich

• Antonio Rudiger (29): Defender, Réal Madrid

Qualification Run

• Round 1: 9W, 0D, 1L – 27 PTS and 1st place in UEFA Group J

Japan

Nickname: Samurai Blues

Head Coach: Hajime Moriyasu

Players to Watch

• Takumi Minamino (27): Forward/midfielder, AS Monaco

• Takefusa Kubo (21): Midfielder, Real Sociedad

• Takehiro Tomiyasu (23): Defender, Arsenal FC

Qualification Run

• Round 2: 8W, 0D, 0L – 24 PTS and 1st place in AFC Group F

• Round 3: 7W, 1D, 2L – 22 PTS and 2nd place in AFC Group B

Spain

Nickname: La Furia Roja (“The Red Fury”)

Head Coach: Luis Enrique

Players to Watch

• Ferran Torres (22): Forward, FC Barcelona

• Ansu Fati (20): Forward, FC Barcelona

• Gavi (18): Midfielder, FC Barcelona

Qualification Run

• Round 1: 6W, 1D, 1L – 19 PTS and 1st place in UEFA Group B 

Group Table Predictions

1. Spain: 2W, 1D, 0L, 7 PTS

2. Germany: 1W, 1D, 1L, 4 PTS

3. Japan: 1W, 0D, 2L, 3 PTS

4. Costa Rica: 0W, 0D, 3L, 0 PTS