Mayes Yousef
Germany v Japan Preview
Germany clash with Japan for the Group E opener at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, at Khalifa International Stadium.
On paper, this match looks like an easy win for the Germans. Germany won the World Cup four times, and they still have Thomas Muller, who was the star of the 2010 and 2014 editions of the tournament.
Muller is also the seventh-leading scorer in German international history, only five goals away from becoming third. He’s also bagged two Champions League crowns, two Club World Cups and a record 11 Bundesliga titles.
When it comes to Japan, they’ve tended to exceed expectations on a global scale. They’re also the highest ranked Asian team at this year’s tournament.
They have qualified for the last seven FIFA World Cups, making it out of the Group Stage in 2002, 2010, and 2018. Japan have also won four AFC Asian Cups.
Japan’s Ritsu Doan, who plays for Bundesliga club SC Freiburg, has put a shot past one of the world’s best goalkeepers, Manuel Neuer, while playing for Freiburg.
With Germany looking to be world champions gain, Japan need to play to survive if they’re looking to make it to the Round of 16.
Kick-off is at 16:00 Doha time.
Germany line-up: Neuer; Schlotterbeck, Sule, Rudiger, Raum; Kimmich, Gundogan; Gnabry, Muller, Musiala; Havertz.
Japan line-up: Gonda; Sakai, Itakura, Yoshida, Ito, Nagatomo; Endo, Tanaka; Kubo, Kamada, Maeda.