Group E: Spain, Costa Rica, Germany, Japan

[Billy Dean]

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).

I was reading something a while ago saying they lost track of youth development a while back, but from the 2005 generation onwards they’re producing good players again. Can’t remember where I read it mind

 

[irishtony1878]

Should sign Japan's left back.
He's got the pass back to his goalkeeper from the half way line off to a tee - he will slot straight in.

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

Should sign Japan's left back.
He's got the pass back to his goalkeeper from the half way line off to a tee - he will slot straight in.

Was thinking that too

Every pass from him has been sideways or back.

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

Costa Rica are comfortably the worse side at this tournament

 

[Nymzee]

Oh Japan you silly buggers

 

[tsubaki]

LOL

Costa Rica score!

 

[Billy Dean]

Good news for Deutschland there

 

[PhilM]

What the fluff was the keeper doing there?

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

Costa Rica making things interesting

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

170 minutes of footy to get your first shot on target

And all of a sudden Japans chances of going through is in the balance. If Germany get a point later you fancy Germany to qualify from the group

 

[Drico]

I was reading something a while ago saying they lost track of youth development a while back, but from the 2005 generation onwards they’re producing good players again. Can’t remember where I read it mind

They're producing good technical players - mainly midfielders - but they are not producing centre-forwards, defenders, or leaders.

The Guardiola influence is so strong in Germany - after his stint at Bayern and his previous success at Barcelona - that Germany now resembles a knock-off version of the Spanish production line, pumping out a LIDL version of tiki-taka. This will, in all likelihood, be exposed tonight for all to see.

Other than the goalkeeper, there isn't a single player in this German squad to compare with the greats of the past. Müller is way past his best, Kimmich is more of a Scrappy-Doo than a Lothar Matthäus, and they haven't a forward to compare with Völler or Klinsmann, let alone a Rummenigge. As for the defence, the less said the better. They're in big trouble. I suspect the scales will fall from the eyes tonight.

 

[Billy Dean]

If it stays like this Germany could even lose tonight and still have a chance of getting through

 

[Daveysgingerlovechild]

170 minutes of footy to get your first shot on target

And all of a sudden Japans chances of going through is in the balance. If Germany get a point later you fancy Germany to qualify from the group

This is what I'm enjoying about this World Cup, pretty much each group is in the balance 2 games in. Teams who started well have not necessarily followed up the second game.

Hoping there'll be surprises along the way.

 

[Drico]

Mind you, that Costa Rican goal gives the Germans a big lifeline. Or at least a margin of error.

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

Japan have been poor. They’ve been content to just knock it about slowly and take the point when it was 0-0. No real urgency to score, walking about, sideways passing.

This is what you get for playing lazy negative football.