Everything you need to know about the group that includes former champions Spain and Germany
Group E of the 2022 World Cup featured former world champions Germany and Spain alongside Costa Rica and Japan.
Japan punched way above their weight in a group where they shouldn't even have qualified on paper. They not only qualified for the Round of 16, but also topped Group E in a group consisting of Spain and Germany, both of which the Samurai Blue defeated. Japan will take on 2018 runners-up Croatia in the Round of 16.
Spain are always one of the favourites heading into a World Cup, with their 7-0 win over Costa Rica in their opening group game further rubber-stamping their credentials. However, they lost momentum into the next two games, drawing 1-1 against Germany and falling to a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan in the final group game to finish runners-up in Group E to set up a clash against Morocco in the Round of 16.
Germany were the other victim of the Japanese efficiency, falling to a 2-1 defeat in the opening group game and leaving them with a mountain to climb. In the final group game against Costa Rica, Hansi Flick's side were leading 1-0 at half-time, with Spain also leading Japan by the same scoreline simultaneously. Germany were progressing to the Round of 16 as things stood, However, an inspiring second half comeback from Japan meant that Germany crashed out of the group stage of a World Cup for the second successive time, even if they managed a 4-2 win.
Costa Rica's hammering at the hands of Spain meant that they needed two wins out of two to progress to the Round of 16. They did manage to beat table toppers Japan 2-1 in their next game. The Costa Ricans were also leading Germany 2-1 at the 70th minute in their final group game, taking them to second place in the group as things stood then. However, Die Mannschaft scored 3 goals in the last 20 mins to end Costa Rica's hopes.
Group E fixtures and results
Date
KO time (local time)
Fixture
Venue
November 23
16:00
Germany 1-2 Japan
Khalifa International Stadium
November 23
19:00
Spain 7-0 Costa Rica
Al Thumama Stadium
November 27
13:00
Japan 0-1 Costa Rica
Ahmad bin Ali Stadium
November 27
22:00
Spain 1-1 Germany
Al Bayt Stadium
December 1
22:00
Japan 2-1 Spain
Khalifa International Stadium
December 1
22:00
Costa Rica 2-4 Germany
Al Bayt Stadium
AdvertisementGroup E table
Position
Country
Played
W
D
L
GD
Points
1
Japan
3
2
0
1
+1
6
2
Spain
3
1
1
1
+6
4
3
Germany
3
1
1
1
+1
4
4
Costa Rica
3
1
0
2
-8
3
Group E squads
Spain squad
GoalkeepersUnai Simon, David Raya, Robert SanchezDefendersCesar Azpilicueta, Hugo Guillamon, Pau Torres, Eric Garcia, Jose Gaya, Dani Carvajal, Jordi Alba, Aymeric LaporteMidfieldersSergio Busquets, Marcos Llorente, Pedri, Rodri, Koke, Gavi, Carlos SolerAttackersAlvaro Morata, Yeremy Pino, Ferran Torres, Marco Asensio, Pablo Sarabia, Dani Olmo, Ansu Fati, Nico Williams
Costa Rica squad
Position
Name
Goalkeepers
Keylor Navas, Patrick Sequeira, Esteban Alvarado
Defenders
Juan Pablo Vargas, Keysher Fuller, Oscar Duarte, Bryan Oviedo, Francisco Calvo, Kendall Waston, Carlos Martinez, Ronald Matarrita, Daniel Chacon
Midfielder
Celso Borges, Anthony Hernandez, Jewison Bennette, Bryan Ruiz, Douglas Lopez, Gerson Torres, Roan Wilson, Alvaro Zamora, Brandon Aguilera, Yeltsin Tejeda, Youstin Salas
Attackers
Anthony Contreras, Johan Venegas, Joel Campbell
Germany squad
GoalkeepersManuel Neuer, Kevin Trapp, Marc-Andre ter StegenDefendersAntonio Rudiger, Matthias Ginter, Thilo Kehrer, Niklas Sule, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Nico Schlotterbeck, Lukas Klostermann, Christian Gunter, David RaumMidfieldersJoshua Kimmich, Jamal Musiala, Ilkay Gundogan, Leon Goretzka, Julian Brandt, Jonas Hofmann, Mario GotzeAttackersKai Havertz, Serge Gnabry, Thomas Muller, Leroy Sane, Karim Adeyemi, Youssoufa Moukoko, Niclas Fullkrug
Japan squad
Position
Name
Goalkeepers
Eiji Kawashima, Shuichi Gonda, Daniel Schmidt
Defenders
Yuto Nagatomo, Miki Yamane, Shogo Taniguchi, Ko Itakura, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Hiroki Sakai, Yuta Nakayama, Maya Yoshida, Hiroki Ito
Midfielder
Gaku Shibasaki, Wataru Endo, Daichi Kamada, Takumi Minamino, Hidemasa Morita, Yuki Soma, Ao Tanaka, Ritsu Doan
Attackers
Takefusa Kubo, Daizen Maeda, Kaoru Mitoma, Junya Ito, Takuma Asano, Ayase Ueda
KO times in USA, UK & India
Qatar time
UK
USA (ET)
India
13:00
11:00
06:00
15:30
16:00
14:00
09:00
18:30
18:00
16:00
11:00
20:30
19:00
17:00
12:00
21:30
22:00
20:00
15:00
00:30