Easy pickings for Germany, Spain
Whichever way you look at it, a group comprising Spain and Germany, two of the last three winners, qualifies to be termed the ‘Group of Death’ for good reasons.
Two of football’s powerhouses have been pooled together with Japan and Costa Rica in Group E and will attract a lot of attention, particularly on November 27 when Germany and Spain clash at the Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor.
Advertisement
It is easy to dismiss the chances of Japan and Costa Rica but they are not just adding up to the numbers and could be party-poopers in the unlikely event that the two former champions and the favourites drop their guards along the way.
GERMANY
Germany are the most successful team in the group as four-time world champions and are favourites to win the group. However, the team do not have the aura of invincibility they previously carried, following their under performance four years ago in Russia where they exited the tournament at the first hurdle of their title defence.
The inaugural UEFA Nations Cup provided a reality check on the Germans as they finished last in their group and exited 2020 European Championship at the Round of 16, which their successful manager, Joachim Loew, stepped down and gave way to the promising Hans-Dieter Flick who had led Bayern Munich to back-to-back Bundesliga titles.
Flick masterminded a revival in ‘Die Mannschaft’ who put up an efficient response in the qualifying competition, becoming the first team after hosts Qatar to secure their place at the World Cup after winning nine of 10 matches.
The coach’s front-foot, high-tempo style has suited his team of an exciting mix of youth and experience who play efficient football, which saw them scoring 36 goals in 10 games, while they conceded just four in the qualifiers.
With lessons learned from their horrendous showing in Russia four years ago, Flick will aim at building on the positives and build the momentum in Qatar, especially with Spain expected to give them a run for their money.
The German team, built around dependable Joshua Kimmich, with veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neurer and defender Antonio Rudiger providing experience, will get their campaign off on November 23 at the Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan, before their much-anticipated clash with Spain.
Key players:
Manuel Neuer, Antonio Rudiger, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Jamala Musiala
Coach: Hans-Dieter Flick
SPAIN
For all their pedigree in football, Spain have won the World Cup just once but they are often rated highly at tournaments on the back of their huge potential.
After their triumph in 2010, the star-studded team surprisingly bowed out at the group stage four years later in Brazil.
Their 2018 World Cup campaign in Russia was also overshadowed by the sacking of their coach Julen Lopetegui on the eve of the tournament and the instability largely accounted for their exit at the Round of 16 after losing to the hosts during a penalty shootout.
Ranked seventh in the latest FIFA ratings, Coach Luis Enrique has rebuilt ‘La Rojas’ who qualified as Group B winners in the UEFA zone and are expected to challenge for the title in Qatar.
The team still possess some exciting young midfielders such as Barcelona’s Pedi and Gavi, as well as veteran Sergio Busquets to provide inspiration on the field as they maintain their tried-and-tested fluid possession football.
This time, however, Spain lack an experienced and deadly striker with killer instincts, but Coach Enrique would have to fall on youngsters such as 20-year-old Barcelona forward Ansu Fati, Rayo Vallecano's Raúl de Tomás and Athletic Bilbao’s Ghanaian star, Nico Williams as backup.
Spain get their campaign off against Costa Rica, their first meeting at the World Cup, on November 23 at the Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, before their big clash with Germany four days later.
Key players:
Pedri, Gavi, Sergio Busquets, Ansu Fati
JAPAN
Many football pundits have tipped Japan to book an early flight back home from Qatar because the Asians lack pedigree at the big stage to pose a real threat to the group’s heavyweights, Germany and Spain.
The Japanese made it to their seventh World Cup through a convoluted qualifying system, finishing second in their group behind Saudi Arabia I a two-horse race in the Asian zone. Beaten by Oman and Saudi Arabia, Japan recovered to win six of their last seven games to secure safe passage.
Four years ago in Russia, the ‘Samurai Blue’ exited at the Round of 16, but Coach Hajime Moriyasu has his work cut out as his team must get past their European rivals and Costa Rica to survive the group.
The 54-year-old coach has managed to build a decent team around players with experience in European leagues. Of his 49 matches in charge, he has won 35 and took Japan to the final of the 2019 Asian Cup.
However, the World Cup represents football’s highest level and despite having talented and experienced players such as Takumi Minamino, Junya Ito and Wataru Endo, as a team, they lack the big match temperament to upset the applecart, even though they can sometimes play exciting attacking football but lack invention in the opponent’s goal area to cause major trouble.
Japan start their campaign with a difficult clash with Germany on November 23 before taking on Costa Rica four days later at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium – a match they have a realistic chance of picking a point.
Key players:Junya Ito, Takumi Minamino, Wataru Endo.
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
COSTA RICA
Costa Rica return to the World Cup for the third time with a difficult task of dealing with two European giants and a Japanese side who have the potential to cause an upset.
‘Los Ticos’ come into this tournament under little pressure and with experience on their side having taken part in four of the last five World Cups and made it to the quarterfinals in 2014.
They qualified via the inter-confederation play-offs after overcoming New Zealand but they could choke in Qatar as they face Germany and Spain who will both fancy picking points off the Central Americans.
Coach Luis Fernando Suarez, the man tasked with guiding ‘Los Ticos’ through this tricky group, must find a way of dealing with the threat from Spain on November 23 before what looks like a manageable tie with Japan four days later.
His side’s strength lie in strong defending, sitting deep and soaking up pressure in their own territory and hope to catch their opponents pants down on the break. However, their attack also lacks the bite and their lead striker Joel Campbell is not at his sharpest form going into the tournament and may choke against a well-knit defence.
Unfancied to win, but the Central American may pack a punch or two to cause an upset when underrated.
Key Players: Joel Campbell, Keylor Nevas, Bryan Ruiz
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez