The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E, Spain will be facing their arch-rivals Germany. Following with the Asian Cup 2019 finalists Japan and the winner of the intercontinental playoff match between Costa Rica and New Zealand planned for June will join them.
The draw has resulted in a rematch of the 2010 FIFA World Cup semifinals, in which a Carles Puyol goal propelled Spain to the tournament final in Johannesburg, where they went on to win the renowned trophy.
Japan will also have a chance to advance to the knockout stage, having qualified for the World Cup last 16 three times in the past five years.
Costa Rica or New Zealand will compete for the final place in Group E, beginning their game versus Luis Enrique’s Spain on Wednesday, Nov. 23.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E match schedule
|
Date |
Match |
Time (IST) |
Time (BDT) |
Stadium |
|
23 Nov 2022 |
Germany vs. Japan |
17.30 |
18.00 |
Khalifa Int’l |
|
23 Nov 2022 |
Spain vs. CRC/NZ |
20.30 |
21.00 |
Al Thumama |
|
27 Nov 2022 |
Japan vs. CRC/NZ |
14.30 |
15.00 |
Ahmad Bin Ali |
|
26/27 Nov 2022 |
Spain vs. Germany |
23.30 |
0.00 |
Al Bayt |
|
30/1 Dec 2022 |
Japan vs. Spain |
23.30 |
0.00 |
Khalifa Int’l |
|
30/1 Dec 2022 |
CRC/NZ vs. Germany |
23.30 |
0.00 |
Al Bayt |
Each of the four teams will play the other three nations in a round-robin style. The points from those three group-stage matches are used to determine the group rankings – three points for a victory, one point for a tie, and none for a defeat.
The single-game knockouts are held for the top two clubs in each group based on total points. If two clubs are tied on points, the first tiebreaker is goal differential, followed by goals scored. A different set of tiebreakers is used if teams are tied in those areas.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E Teams Overview
Spain
- Current FIFA world ranking: 7th (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 5th (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: 1
- World Cup appearances (last): 15 (Russia 2018)
- Manager: Luis Enrique since November, 2019
- Star players: Jordi Alba (Barcelona / Spain), Rodri (Manchester City / England), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City / England)
- How qualified: UEFA Group B winners: 6W-1L-1D
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-2 / Lose-0 / Draw-0 (Goals: 7 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: Win-10 / Lose-2 / Draw-6 (Goals: 35 scored / 14 conceded)
Spain is still in a transitional period as they prepare for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as they want to repeat the success they had in the 2010 World Cup.
The rise of players like Pedri, Ferran Torres, and Ansu Fati speaks well for the future, but it remains to be seen if Spain will be strong enough to win in Qatar. However, La Roja’s run in the Nations League, in which they were narrowly lost in the final by France, is a positive sign.
With an emphasis on inventiveness, coach Luis Enrique hasn’t been hesitant to leave out major players like David de Gea and Sergio Busquets from recent teams, making Spain exceedingly tough to defend against.
Germany
- Current FIFA world ranking: 12nd (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 9th (UEFA)
- World Cup titles: 4
- World Cup appearances: 19 (Russia 2018)
- Coach: Hansi Flick since July, 2021
- Star players: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich / Germany), Kai Havertz (Chelsea / England), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich / Germany)
- How qualified: UEFA Group J winners: 9W-1L-0D
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-1 / Lose-0 / Draw-1 (Goals: 3 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: Win-11 / Lose-3 / Draw-2 (Goals: 50 scored / 13 conceded)
Germany has also been assigned to Group E of the FIFA World Cup 2022.
Germany will be eager to make amends for their poor performance in defending their World Cup title in 2018, as they enter a major tournament without Joachim Low for the first time in over two decades.
Low was an assistant to Jurgen Klinsmann as Die Mannschaft reached the semi-finals of the 2006 World Cup on home soil, before embarking on his own illustrious 15-year term as head coach.
After a disappointing European Championship campaign marked Low’s farewell last year, his former assistant Hansi Flick will head an energetic new generation eager to make amends after Germany won a fourth global title in Brazil 2014.
Japan
- Current FIFA world ranking: 23rd (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 2nd (AFC)
- World Cup titles: —
- World Cup appearances: 7 (Russia 2018)
- Coach: Hajime Moriyasu since August 2018
- Star players: Takumi Minamino (Liverpool / England), Takehiro Tomiyasu (Arsenal / England), Maya Yoshida (Sampdoria / Italy)
- How qualified: AFC Third Round Group B winners: 7W-2L-1D
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-3 / Lose-0 / Draw-1 (Goals: 7 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: Win-10 / Lose-2 / Draw-0 (Goals: 39 scored / 5 conceded)
Japan’s national team has never advanced beyond the Round of 16 in the World Cup, but they will be hoping for a longer run this year.
Japan’s team has a lot of experience and some young talents, such as Mallorca’s on-loan Real Madrid winger Takefusa Kubo. Besides, there are Premier League qualified players in Japan, and many fans around the world will already be familiar with Arsenal’s Takehiro Tomiyasu and Liverpool’s Takumi Minamino.
The preparations of Japan’s team for the tournament are on track after defeating Australia’s challenge to automatic qualifying in the AFC region, but it depends on how well Samurai Blue will play against stronger opponents.
Costa Rica / New Zealand
Costa Rica and New Zealand will face off in a one-off intercontinental playoff match in June to determine which team will compete for one of the remaining slots in the finals.
Costa Rica
- Current FIFA world ranking: 31st (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 3rd (CONCACAF)
- World Cup appearances: 5 (Russia 2018)
- Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez since July, 2021
- Star players: Keylor Navas (Paris Saint-Germain / France), Bryan Ruiz (Alajuelense / Costa Rica), Joel Campbell (Monterrey / Mexico)
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-5 / Lose-0 / Draw-1 (Goals: 7 scored / 1 conceded)
- 2021: Win-5 / Lose-6 / Draw-7 (Goals: 14 scored / 18 conceded)
After placing fourth in CONCACAF qualification, Costa Rica’s destiny will be determined in a playoff. Keylor Navas and Bryan Ruiz, both international veterans, will seek to repeat their tournament magic and send Los Ticos through.
New Zealand
- Current FIFA world ranking: 101st (March 2022)
- Regional ranking: 1st (OFC)
- World Cup appearances: 2 (South Africa 2010)
- Coach: Danny Hay since August, 2019
- Star players: Chris Wood (Newcastle United / England), Joe Bell (Brondby / Denmark), Winston Reid (Unattached)
- Overall record (all competitions & friendlies):
- 2022: Win-5 / Lose-1 / Draw-0 (Goals: 19 scored / 4 conceded)
- 2021: Win-3 / Lose-0 / Draw-0 (Goals: 5 scored / 1 conceded)
After passing through the OFC region, New Zealand will have a chance to qualify for the World Cup for the third time in the country’s history. The winner-take-all duel was set up after a 5-0 win against the Solomon Islands, with target man Chris Wood scoring in the Doha match. If the All Whites are to finish the job, the Newcastle player, who has 33 senior national team goals, will almost certainly have to be the difference-maker once again.
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Group E to advance
December 5 & 6, the first- and second-place finishers in Group E will proceed to the Round of 16, where they will meet the two teams who advanced from Group D.
Others World Cup Groups Breakdowns:
Group A | Group B | Group C | Group D
Group E | Group F | Group G | Group H
