There’s no doubt that Group E is the Group of Death in the 2022 World Cup. Two of the last three World Cup champions are the favorites in this group by the soccer betting odds, and both Spain and Germany are among the short list of favorites in Qatar this year. It will be very difficult for either Japan or Costa Rica to make it to the knockout rounds, but Japan has made it to the Round of 16 in three of the last six World Cups, and Costa Rica emerged victorious in a Group of Death at the 2014 World Cup, topping Uruguay, Italy, and England on its way to a spot in the quarterfinals.
Odds to win 2022 FIFA World Cup Group E
Spain -115
Germany +115
Japan +1150
Costa Rica +4750
Spain has become a slight favorite over Germany to win Group E. La Roja dominated the soccer world a decade ago, winning the 2010 World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. They struggled in their next three international tournaments as their core got old, but they showed everyone that they were ready to contend once more at the 2020 European Championships. Spain made it to the semifinals of the competition before losing to eventual champions Italy in penalties.
Unlike other favorites that have struggled in international play over the last year, Spain has been solid. La Roja are 6-0-2 since their loss to France in the UEFA Nations League Finals, and their two draws were against Portugal and the Czech Republic. They don’t have a standout forward up top, forcing them to rely on Alvaro Morata, Marco Asensio, and the young Ferran Torres, but they have a formidable midfield helmed by captain Sergio Busquets. The back line has a nice mix of seasoning and youth, and there are two quality goalkeepers in Unai Simon and David de Gea.
Four-time World Cup champion Germany has not lost a match in over a year. The Germans last loss came against England in the Round of 16 at the 2020 Euros last year, but they have played four of their last five opponents to a 1-1 draw. Germany has an incredible track record at the World Cup, as before their early exit in 2018, the last time they didn’t make the quarterfinals of this competition came all the way back in 1978.
Manuel Neuer is 36 years old, but he is still an elite goalkeeper and the captain of Germany. Neuer doesn’t have an experienced back line in front of him though. Antonio Rudiger is the most capped defender with 53 appearances for the national team, and only two other defenders currently have more than 20 caps.
The midfield is rock solid though with oodles of talent. Joshua Kimmich, Kai Havertz, Ilkay Gundogan, Marco Reus, Julian Draxler, and Leon Goretzka are all great players, and there are four forwards that can all finish in Timo Werner, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, and Leroy Sane.
Japan has qualified for six straight World Cups. The Samurai Blue have alternated winless appearances where they crashed out in the Group Stage with trips to the Round of 16, and they are set for another winless trip if that trend holds. They lost at home to Brazil and Tunisia in June, but they have also beat Ghana and South Korea by multiple goals over the last two months.
There is a lot of experience on this team, but head coach Hajime Moriyasu has used several dozen players over the last year. It’s hard to know just who will be in the final lineup come November.
Costa Rica was the final team to qualify for the World Cup. The Ticos beat New Zealand 1-0 in mid-June to claim the last spot in Qatar, but they will be hard pressed to earn a result in this group. Their four core players are all on the wrong side of 30, and that doesn’t bode well for their chances.
Keylor Navas is still an elite goalkeeper for Paris Saint-Germain at 35 years old, but Celso Borges and Bryan Ruiz are playing in the Costa Rican league at the tail end of their careers. Joel Campbell is now in Liga MX after bouncing around European clubs for a decade, and they don’t have much talent outside of those players.
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