After suffering embarrassing exits at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Spain and Germany would be careful to avoid a repeat of their last World Cup performance. Costa Rica and Japan hope to topple the big boys for a place in the Round of 16. Will there be an upset in this group, or will Spain and Germany progress?
| Tournament: | Qatar World Cup 2022, Group E |
| Venues: | Qatar Stadiums at Al Rayyan, Al-Thumama, Al Khor, and Doha |
| Dates: | 23rd November – 1st December 2022 |
After an excellent year, Spain edges out Germany as the top favorites in Group E. The Red Fury is valued at 1.83 (5/6) to win the group, while a place for Spain in the last 16 is worth 1.11 (1/9). Germany is just behind Spain as favorites in Group E. Group qualification for the Germans is worth 1.13 (1/8) while they are placed at 2.10 (11/10) to finish as group winners.
Japan is priced at 14.00 (13/1) to finish top of the pile, while a top-two finish for the Japanese is worth 5.00 (4/1). Costa Rica is the least favorite to progress from this group. They are placed at a huge 7.00 (6/1) to make it to the next round and 45.00 (44/1) to claim the top spot in Group E.
After missing out on the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Costa Rica has appeared in three consecutive World Cups and will be making its sixth appearance in Qatar. Costa Rica had a good year which saw them move up to 31st on the FIFA World rankings. However, it doesn’t help them, and Costa Rica’s betting odds show their low chances of passing the quartet.
Costa Rica had their best World Cup result in South Africa in 2014. It was one of the biggest surprises in the history of this tournament — qualifying from a Group with England, Italy, and Uruguay. The Ticos were knocked out in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands on penalties.
Germany qualified for the World Cup for the 20th time. Only Brazil has more appearances at the FIFA World Cup than Germany. The Germans have won the World Cup four times, including a recent victory in 2014.
Germany failed to retain their title in 2018, crashing out of the group stage in Russia. Die Mannschaft slipped out of the top 10 on the FIFA World rankings after an inconsistent year. Hansi Flick would be eyeing his first silverware with the national team in Qatar, and they can make a statement by finishing as Group E winners.
Japan is one of the best teams in Asia. They finished second in the AFC World Cup qualification to book a ticket to Qatar. The Samurai Blue has represented the continent in the last seven World Cups, with their first appearance coming in 1998.
Japan has made it to the last 16 three times but failed to reach this competition’s quarterfinals. Japan finished in second position above Senegal and Poland in the 2018 World Cup to reach the last 16, where Belgium eliminated them in a five-goal thriller. But betting on Japan looks interesting only if you bet against them.
Spain’s golden generation seems to be over, but the hosts can be hopeful after their recent performances in European competitions. La Roja has participated in 15 editions of the World Cup. Spain won the FIFA World Cup in 2010 after 13 tournament appearances.
Luis Enrique’s team is filled with optimism with the breakout of young talents like Pedri and Gavi alongside experienced members. Spain was eliminated on penalties in the last 16 at the previous World Cup. They have a much-changed squad and can go further in this tournament, according to the odds on Spain by most bookies.
Costa Rica is the least favorite to progress from this group, and it’s not surprising, looking at their recent performances. The Tricolor has lost the main core that took them to the quarterfinals of this competition in 2014. Costa Rica struggled in the CONCACAF World Cup qualifiers, finishing outside the top three. They had to go through the playoffs to secure a spot in Qatar. Costa Rica hasn’t been as impressive as Japan and should finish last in this Group.
Spain defeated Portugal in Braga to reach the semifinals of the UEFA Nations League 2022. The Red Fury has had good outings at major tournaments. Luis Enrique’s side is currently in the top 10 on FIFA World rankings and are top five favorites to win the World Cup, according to the bookies.
Spain and Germany are expected to qualify for the knockout stages, but the Spaniards should finish first. La Roja has a good record against the Germans, with two wins and one draw in three competitive meetings. The last game between these two teams ended in a 6-0 win for Spain, and they can get the better of Germany once again to finish as group winners. At least, betting odds on Germany predict this particular order in group standing.
Although Spain has performed better by picking up wins, Germany is a better goal-scoring side. The Germans scored more goals than Spain in the UEFA World Cup qualifiers and the UEFA Nations League. Die Mannschaft has better attackers than Spain and should end the group with the highest goal tally. A bet on Germany to produce the most goals in Group E is a great option for punters looking to place a bet on the 2022 World Cup Qatar.
There is always the chance of an upset in the World Cup group stages. Costa Rica had a similar tournament in 2014, while Japan was very close to eliminating Belgium in the 2018 World Cup. Both teams would be looking to pounce on any errors from Spain and Germany. This game between Costa Rica and Japan is crucial and can be very decisive if one of Spain or Germany fails to deliver the goods. It’s better to look at how the teams feel in Qatar’s climate conditions before placing a bet on a decisive matchup.
| Matchup | Date | Venue | Predicted Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany vs Japan | Nov 23 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha | Germany to win |
| Spain vs Costa Rica | Nov 23 | Al-Thumama Stadium, Al-Thumama | Spain to win |
| Japan vs Costa Rica | Nov 27 | Ahmed Bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan | Draw |
| Spain vs Germany | Nov 27 | Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor | Spain to win |
| Costa Rica vs Germany | Dec 1 | Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor | Germany to win |
| Japan vs Spain | Dec 1 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha | Spain to win |
Group E is one of the most predictable groups in the World Cup, but it still has a lot of exciting bet options. Get the best out of these games by using our expert betting tips and predictions.
