Henry Hardwicke
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The 2022 soccer World Cup gets underway on Sunday, November 20, and Group E looks set to feature an interesting battle for top spot between former winners Spain and Germany. Both nations will be hoping to regain the trophy, having respectively held it in 2010 and 2014. However, Japan and Costa Rica will certainly do their best to disrupt those plans. Which teams will be able to qualify from Group E and advance to the second round of the World Cup? Our soccer expert is breaking down each team and giving their best bet for Group B.
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Spain 2022 World Cup Group E prediction
Spain reached the semi-finals of Euro 2020 and followed that up by topping their World Cup qualification group. Luis Enrique’s side prepared for the World Cup finals by winning Group 2 in League A of the Nations League and have quality throughout their squad, with the likes of Gavi and Pedri having the potential to easily take the tournament by storm, should the pair be unleashed on the biggest stage.
Spain, behind France, ranks as the 2nd-best of the European contingent heading for Qatar and it would come as no surprise if Luis Enrique’s side made a run deep into the tournament.
Germany 2022 World Cup Group E prediction
Germany finished bottom of Group F at the 2018 World Cup, a group which included Sweden, Mexico and South Korea, and lost to England in the last 16 at Euro 2020.
They qualified for the 2022 World Cup by topping a particularly weak group, but Germany has failed to make a dent in their last 2 major tournaments and Toni Kroos’ international retirement last year hasn’t helped their cause this time round. Expect Germany to fight it out with Japan for 2nd place in Group E, but it’s hard to make a case for Hansi Flick’s side making it beyond the last 16.
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Japan 2022 World Cup Group E prediction
Japan has made it to the last 16 in 2 of their last 3 World Cup appearances and rank as lively outsiders, who could pick up the pieces and finish 2nd in Group E if Germany fails to perform.
Hajime Moriyasu’s squad boasts players from top leagues all over Europe and the Samurai Blue will like their chances of causing a few upsets in Qatar. Japan has never made it past the last 16 in a World Cup and that is most likely where the tournament would come to an end should they shock Germany.
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Costa Rica 2022 World Cup Group E prediction
Costa Rica had to come through a playoff game against New Zealand to qualify for the finals in Qatar, having finished 4th in the CONCACAF qualification group.
Seven of the starting 11 in that game against New Zealand were aged 30 or over and this veteran squad, could be set to struggle. Costa Rica, who finished bottom of Group E at the 2018 World Cup, looks out of their depth in Group E and faces an early exit.
2022 Soccer World Cup Group E Best Bet: Spain to win the group (-115)
Odds available at FanDuel Sportsbook at time of publishing.
Spain look a good bet to win Group E. Luis Enrique’s squad will be largely similar to the one that reached the semifinals of Euro 2020 and has a nice blend of some exceptionally talented youngsters, along with several quality experienced players who will all have benefited from another year playing together.
Group E is expected to develop into a shootout between Germany and Spain but these two nations are heading in different directions.
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2022 World Cup Group E finishing order prediction
1. Spain
2. Germany
3. Japan
4. Costa Rica
2022 World Cup group predictions
Don’t miss our picks and predictions for EVERY 2022 soccer World Cup group:
- 2022 World Cup Group A picks
- 2022 World Cup Group B picks
- 2022 World Cup Group C picks
- 2022 World Cup Group D picks
- 2022 World Cup Group F picks
- 2022 World Cup Group G picks
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