Spain – Germany

German team regains fans’ respect after defeat against Japan

The fate of the two Group E favourites in the first leg was completely different. While Spain defeated their rivals, somewhat entertaining on the pitch, Germany looked careless and were rightly punished by Japan. Such results in the opening encounters have changed the odds of both European teams winning the tournament and winning the group. Spain are now the second to third title contenders with odds of 8.0, with Germany's similar success collapsing to 27.0. Victory in the group for the Spaniards is quoted at odds of 1.28, with the Germans at 9.50. In their meeting in Paris, bookmakers' betting odds favour the Iberian side. Spain secured a three-goal lead as early as the first half hour of the game against Costa Rica, allowing the coaching staff to tackle other tactical and strategic objectives. Already midway through the second half, Luis Enrique made all five substitutions, giving the opportunity to feel the Qatari football fields to the players who remained in reserve. The Spanish team's main problem ahead of the game against Germany will probably be an incomplete readiness for the high-level opposition. A good frame of mind and a familiar style of play may be lacking in a game against a maximum-tempered Germany. Germany scored the first goal against Japan in the 33rd minute on a penalty kick, and before half-time they slotted the ball into the net once more through Havertz, but that goal was disallowed due to offside. With the referee's whistle blowing at the end of the first half, the statistics were all in favour of the Germans: 81%-19% in possession, 12-1 in shots, 4-0 in shots on target. Apparently, calmness and confidence in victory reigned in the dressing room of Flick's charges, but in the second half Japan reversed the lopsided running of the game and scored two unanswered goals. Spain and Germany have crossed paths four times in the last more than a decade. The Spanish have only managed to win once, when in the League of Nations in 2020, the Germans forgot to take to the pitch and lost 0-6. The German side's encounter is the match of their lives; a defeat would spell the end for their chances of qualifying for the last eight. The Germans will die on the pitch, but not lose.