Nickname: Die Mannschaft
Captain: Manuel Neuer
Key Player: Josuah Kimmich
Coach: Hansi Flick
Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Group Stage)
Germany is the most successful football nation in Europe in terms of international titles, with four World Cup titles, three European Championships, the Confederations Cup and Olympic Gold. They are usually in the conversation as potential winners, whether they are favourites or not, thanks to their consistency in going deep in the finals. They have been to 19 World Cups, played in 109 matches, the joint-most and have the second most wins with sixty-seven. Since 2000, Germany has been in the semifinals four times in the past five finals, winning the trophy in 2014. It's first as a united nation. With the European Championships and Confederations Cup, they have reached the semifinals in nine tournaments from a possible thirteen. Making them the quintessential tournament team. Their elimination in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup was a huge shock, as it was the first time Die Mannschaft failed to make it past the first round since 1938. In Euro 2020, they struggled to make it to the knockouts and crashed out early, losing to England in the last 16. Germany coach Hansi Flick took the reins from long-serving coach Joachim Low, ushering in a new era. They qualified comfortably, winning nine from ten games and scoring 36 goals. Their squad consist of the old guard in Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer, those in their prime age like Josuah Kimmich, Leon Goreztka and Serge Gnarby, and those like Karim Adeyemi, Jamal Musiala and Youssoufa Moukoko going for their first World Cup. Question marks persist over Germany, particularly on the quality of their attackers, lacking the ruthless nature needed to win tournaments. Germany is the favourite to top the group and can still pull strings in Qatar. It will not be a surprise to see Germany in the semifinals, but this project from Flick is still a work in progress. They may have lost their lustre, but you can never rule out Die Mannschaft.
Nickname: Samurai Blue
Captain: Maya Yoshida
Key Player: Takumi Minamino
Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Round of 16)
Japan is one of the best sides to come out of East Asia and will be at the World Cup for the seventh time. Since making changes to its football operation in the 1990s, Japan qualified for the 1998 World Cup, which was its first and has made it to every tournament since then. When they co-hosted in 2002, they got their first World Cup win against Russia and advanced to the knockouts for the first time. In the Asian Cup, Japan has the most titles with four titles, winning their last title in 2011. They reached the final of the 2019 Asian Cup but lost to Qatar 3-1. In the 2018 World Cup, Japan made it to the last 16 ahead of Senegal based on the fair play rule. They went two goals up against Belgium in the round of 16, minutes away from delivering their most famous World Cup result, before Belgium came from behind and won 3-2, breaking Japanese hearts in the process. The Samurai Blue were placed along with Australia and Saudi Arabia in their qualifying group and started poorly, losing to Oman in their first game. They eventually made it to the finals, finishing second with 22 points from ten games in the final qualifying round. Hajime Moriyasu has been in the Japanese set-up for five years, eventually becoming Japan's head coach in 2018. He prefers the 4-2-3-1 formation and is taken a more experienced core to Qatar, omitting Celtic's Kyogo Furuhashi. Their adept figures include captain Maya Yoshida and Yuto Nagatomo, whilst having players like Takumi Minamino, Daichi Kamada, Daizen Maeda and Takefusa Kubo, widely touted to do big things in his career. Japan have to face Spain and Germany. Hard, yes, but they are comfortable in this stage. Not to mention both countries are not what they were years ago, allowing Japan to throw one of these teams out in the group stage. That can do it and may throw a surprise this November.
Can They Go Through: YES
Nickname: Los Ticos
Captain: Bryan Ruiz
Key Player: Joel Campbell
Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Group Stage)
Costa Rica captured the hearts of everyone during the 2014 World Cup, topping a group which included Italy, Uruguay and England, finishing with an astonishing seven points. Greece came in the last 16, and the Central American nation prevailed, making the quarterfinals for the first time. Their journey ended there, losing to the Netherlands on penalties. That was the best finish Costa Rica made in the World Cup. An anomaly, as they only reached the knockouts once before 2014, which was in the 1990 World Cup. In the 2018 World Cup, they did not capture the excitement from 2014, getting eliminated with just a point in the group stages. The Central American nation, in recent years, has provoked giants in the region like the United States and Mexico. They have won the CONCACAF Gold Cup three times in their history, regularly competing in the knockout stages of the Gold Cup, failing to reach the knockouts in 1998. They made the quarterfinals of the Gold Cup in 2021. Luis Fernando Suarez has been around Latin America, taking the reins in Honduras and Ecuador, where he led them to the last 16 in the 2006 World Cup. They finished fourth in CONCACAF qualifiers, unable to get an automatic qualification. They made the inter-continental playoff against New Zealand in June and won 1-0. They still have the core of the 2014 team, like goalkeeper Keylor Navas, who has won three Champions League with Real Madrid, captain Bryan Ruiz and former Arsenal striker Joel Campbell. Costa Rica is the weakest side in the group. Even if they will be a tough nut to crack, it's very unlikely they will get a point from this group.
Can They Go Through: NO
Nickname: La Roja
Captain: Sergio Busquets
Key Player: Pedri
Coach: Luis Enrique
Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Round of 16)
Spain redefined the game during the late 2000s and early 2010s with their style of play, popularly known as tiki-taka. Their golden generation dominated international football from 2008 to 2012, winning the European Championships twice and the World Cup within that timeframe, making them one of the best international teams ever. Iker Casillas, Fernando Torres, David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Carlos Puyol were the faces of that Spanish team that delivered Spain success. That period is not that long ago, keeping Spain a favourite for the World Cup, though they have not made the quarterfinals since 2010, losing in the last 16 to Russia in the 2018 World Cup. However, they made it to the UEFA Nations League Final plus reached the semifinals of Euro 2020, losing to eventual champions Italy. Luis Enrique has had success in club football, particularly with Barcelona. He has been Spain's coach for over three years and has largely kept the tiki-taka style of play with some minor adjustments. He has usually kept the 4-3-3 formation with ball possession as their specific tactic. La Roja managed to seal the automatic qualification spot in the European qualifiers, fending off Sweden in the process. Their style of play makes their midfielders important in their chances to go far in Qatar. Captain Sergio Busquets holds down defensive midfield, flanked by youngsters Pedri and Gavi. Alvaro Morata leads the attacking line, with others like Ferran Torres, Dani Olmo, and Pablo Sarabia can be called upon whenever Spain needs a goal. Spain can create chances, but it's whether they can score goals. Question marks persist over their attack, having scored just 15 goals in the qualifying process. That could hurt Spain in the group if they cannot get points from Costa Rica and Japan. Spain can either be two extremes, make it to the semis or get eliminated early. This team is talented, but they must be decisive in both boxes and not be lax in possession, or they could struggle.
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