FIFA World Cup 2022 – Germany vs Japan, Group E, match preview, predicted lineups
Four-time World Champions Germany take on Japan in their opening game of FIFA World Cup 2022 Qatar on Wednesday as the tournament moves ahead. Germany start this game as the favourites.
Kick-off : 4:00 PM (Local)
Venue : Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
Germany are World champions for a reason and they know their prowess, so they will have aspirations for this tournament. They will have to play their brand of football.
Die Mannschaft had a year of mixed results so far with lot of cancelled out games. They will have to find ways to win games if they are to lift the final trophy. But a recent friendly just before the fifa world cup in Oman showed signs of revival with them winning 1-0.
Boss Hansi Flick will probably go for his tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation on Wednesday.
On the other hand, Japan have been heavyweights in Asia and hence so many World cup qualifications but are they good at this level. They showed signs of it in Russia 2018 and will have a job for their fans to challenge beyond.
The Samurai Blue have had some good results this year in their football but they must play according to the template. They last lost to Canada 1-2 in a friendly in prep. For the fifa world cup earlier in the month.
Manager Hajime Moriyasu will also utilise the 4-2-3-1 system against Germany.
Team news and possible lineups
Karou Mitoma, Wataru Endo, Hidemasa Morita are sll available for Japan and might play on Wednesday.
As for Germany, Marco Reus is out injured. While Leroy Sane is a doubt.
Germany XI : Neuer, Kehrer, Sule, Rudiger, Raum, Kimmich, Gundogan, Hoffman, Musiala, Gnabry, Muller.
Japan XI : Gonda, Sakai, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Nagatomo, Morita, Endo, Kamada, Ito, Asano, Minamino.
Prediction
An easy win for Germany one might say but both teams are World class and I think Japan will give them tough fight even if Germany manage to win 3-1.
