Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

[Ivo]

You’ll laugh, but England should be in that category too if we’re going off the opening games.

No, not laughing at all. Did consider mentioning England too, but France and Spain just look much more complete. I think we (England) would struggle to contain them with our defence.

 

[Drico]

The problem for Germany is they are playing Spain next where Spain will be fully motivated.

Had it been the final group game with Spain on 6 points it would be different

The problem for Germany is they are not very good.

Everything else is simply added hilarity.

 

[Rook]

Germany is lucky that Costa Rica is the 4 seed as CR has a somewhat decent shot of taking out Japan. Think CR might do alright this year, they have a youth movement goin on, most play in CR so probably had more time over the past few months to practice together.

I'm not wrong. they were only down a touchdown late.

 

[Librarian]

Spain and

They must beat Spain and then improve their goal difference vs Costa Rica (if they want to go through), there is chance all 3 teams end up on 6 points

Can’t see them beating Spain

 

[Rita_Poon]

Thanks Germany, that was an epic show that.

Wish I'd had Japan and Saudi as a double, two days two acca busters.

 

[carolinablue232]

It’s ok, FIFA have only increased teams by 16 for next World Cup so these type of games will be the norm

Remember when Tahiti qualified for the confed cup back in 2013. Will be more of the same…

 

[TheBigIguana]

So Germany could kickoff tomorrow knowing they're out with a loss

 

[Jamo Martinez]

Germany are gone here because Japan will beat Costa Rica

What if Germany beat Spain?

 

[Billy Dean]

What if Germany beat Spain?

After the first round of games everyone is so convinced Spain will beat Germany easily that it will be one of them where Germany wins

 

[GoldenToffee]

Japan beat Costa Rica on Sunday and Germany are going home

Yep. Japan win, Deutschland going home in shame after a bumming off Spain. Flick fired, Klopp brought in, Liverpool relegated by Easter.

 

[Nymzee]

C’monnnn Japan

 

[Nymzee]

Maybe a few too many changes by the Japanese?

 

[Kurt.]

What an awful game … won’t be watching the second half

 

[Billy Dean]

Japan looking a bit more lively so far

 

[Drico]

So Germany could kickoff tomorrow knowing they're out with a loss

Or even a draw.

Let's face it, if Japan draw with Costa Rica, then they will have four points - and so any draw in tonight's game puts Spain on four as well, with the Spanish and the Japanese then meeting in the last game.

I don't see any way in which those two sides do not end up drawing to ensure qualification. Call it a reverse Gijon. How ironic. And Spain's massive goal difference advantage means they could likely even lose and still go through in second. The Germans' only hope at that stage is the Spanish think so little of them that they beat the Japanese anyway and allow Flick's boys through the backdoor.

But, all in all, unless the Costa Ricans pull off a surprising win today, Germany must beat Spain tonight to survive. Amazingly, German TV pundits have to a man - and woman - predicted a German win tonight (Hitzlsperger, Khedira, Almuth Schult (women's Olympic champion, 2016)). The delusion remains high here, it seems.

People say "never write off the Germans" - but I'll happily write this iteration off. They are the kind of team that would beat Spain tonight and then lose to Costa Rica. But I don't see them doing even that. They'll be out tonight wondering where it all went wrong despite at least four and a half years of evidence that something has been mislaid in player development over the last 20 years (no great forwards, no great defenders, no leaders).