2022 FIFA World Cup Group E

Notes

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{{2022 FIFA World Cup group tables|Group E}}

In the round of 16:

• The winners of Group E, Japan, advanced to play the runners-up of Group F, Croatia.
• The runners-up of Group E, Spain, advanced to play the winners of Group F, Morocco.

All times listed are local, AST (UTC+3).

The two teams had faced each other twice, most recently in 2006 friendly, a 2–2 draw.{{cite news |title=Germany national football team: record v Japan |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/germany/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Japan/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=11v11.com}}

Japan's Daizen Maeda would convert a cross into the net 8 minutes in, but the goal was ruled out for offside. In the 33rd minute, Germany was awarded a penalty when Japanese goalkeeper Shūichi Gonda fouled David Raum inside the area. İlkay Gündoğan converted the penalty via a shot down the middle of the net, with the goalkeeper diving to the right.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63644792|title=Germany 1 Japan 2|date=23 November 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 December 2022}} Germany would have the ball in the net again just before half-time through Kai Havertz, but the goal was then once again disallowed for offside.

In the 75th minute, Japan equalized through Ritsu Dōan, after he finished a rebound into the net following goalkeeper Manuel Neuer's save from a low shot from the left. Japan went in front eight minutes later, when Takuma Asano received the ball down the right wing before pulling away from defender Nico Schlotterbeck towards the penalty area and shooting high above Neuer into the net past the near post.{{cite web|url=https://www.the42.ie/japan-germany-5927859-Nov2022/|title=Japan come from behind in stunning win against Germany|date=23 November 2022|work=The 42|access-date=1 December 2022}}

The result marked the second consecutive occasion that Germany lost their opening World Cup match, after a 1–0 defeat to Mexico in 2018. Following his substitution on in the 79th minute, the contest also saw the return of Mario Götze in a World Cup match, his first since scoring the decisive goal in extra time of the 2014 final against Argentina.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/nov/23/germany-v-japan-world-cup-2022-live|title=Germany 1 Japan 2: As it happened|date=23 November 2022|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 December 2022}}

The teams had met on three occasions, all of them friendlies, with the most recent being a 5–0 home win for Spain in 2017.{{cite news |last1=Muñoz |first1=Felip |title=Rival de España: Nueva Zelanda o Costa Rica, dos selecciones asequibles |url=https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/mundial/20220401/1001778613/rival-espana-nueva-zelanda-costa-rica-dos-equipos-asequibles.html |access-date=1 April 2022 |work=Mundo Deportivo |date=1 April 2022 |language=es}}

Spain dominated possession, and were up 3–0 at half-time thanks to goals scored in a span of 20 minutes by Dani Olmo, Marco Asensio and Ferran Torres from the penalty spot. Torres would get his second goal of the match nine minutes into the second half, before teenager Gavi scored Spain's fifth goal via an outside-of-the-foot volley in the 74th minute. Late strikes from substitutes Carlos Soler and Álvaro Morata saw the match conclude in a 7–0 Spanish win, the biggest margin of victory in a World Cup game since Portugal beat North Korea by the same scoreline in 2010. Costa Rica failed to record a single shot throughout the entirety of the contest, whilst Spain scored with each of their first seven shots on target.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/12753911/world-cup-2022-spain-7-0-costa-rica-ferran-torres-scores-twice-as-luis-enriques-side-make-rampant-start|title=Spain 7-0 Costa Rica: Ferran Torres scores twice as Luis Enrique's side make rampant start|publisher=Sky Sports|date=24 November 2022|access-date=24 November 2022}}

Costa Rica equalled their worst ever defeat, a 7–0 loss to Mexico in 1975, while this was Spain's biggest win at a World Cup, surpassing their 6–1 success against Bulgaria in 1998.{{cite web|url=https://brazilian.report/liveblog/2022/11/23/costa-rica-spain-world-cup-debut/|title=Costa Rica crushed by Spain in World Cup debut|website=The Brazilian Report|date=23 November 2022|access-date=23 November 2022}} At the age of 18 years and 110 days, Gavi became the youngest ever player to both play and score in a World Cup match for Spain; he was also the youngest player to score for any team in the competition since Pelé for Brazil in 1958.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63644789|title=Spain 7 Costa Rica 0|work=BBC Sport|date=23 November 2022|access-date=24 November 2022}}

The teams had previously met four times, all in friendly matches, with Japan winning three and drawing one;{{cite web |title=Japan national football team: record v Costa Rica |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/japan/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Costa%20Rica/ |access-date=1 April 2022 |website=11v11.com}} their most recent encounter was a 3–0 home victory for the Japanese in 2018.{{cite news |title=Japón golea 3–0 a Costa Rica en amistoso |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/futbol-japon-costarica-idLTAKCN1LR1H0-OUSLS |access-date=1 April 2022 |work=Reuters |date=11 September 2018 |language=es}}

Japan, who made five changes to their starting lineup that won against Germany, dominated the match, but it was Costa Rica who would go in front with nine minutes remaining.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63692163|title=Japan 0 Costa Rica 1|date=27 November 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 December 2022}} Keysher Fuller scored with a shot from the right which was deflected and misjudged by Japan goalkeeper Shūichi Gonda, and this would end up being the only goal of the game.{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12098/12755147/world-cup-2022-japan-0-1-costa-rica-keysher-fuller-scores-late-winner-for-los-ticos-to-blow-group-e-wide-open|title=World Cup 2022 – Japan 0–1 Costa Rica: Keysher Fuller scores late winner for Los Ticos to blow Group E wide open|date=27 November 2022|publisher=Sky Sports|access-date=1 December 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/61016539|title=Japan 0 Costa Rica 1: Live|date=27 November 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 December 2022}}

The teams had previously met four times in the World Cup: Germany recorded a 2–1 group stage victory in 1966 and a 2–1 second group stage win in 1982, the sides had a 1–1 group stage draw in 1994, and Spain earned a 1–0 semi-final win in 2010. Their most recent meeting was in the 2020–21 UEFA Nations League, with Spain winning 6–0.{{cite web |title=Spain national football team: record v Germany |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/spain/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Germany/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=11v11.com}}

In the first half, Spain's Dani Olmo had a shot that goalkeeper Manuel Neuer turned onto the bar. In the 62nd minute, substitute Álvaro Morata put Spain into the lead when he flicked Jordi Alba's cross from the left into the net at the near post.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63692161|title=Spain 1 Germany 1|date=27 November 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=1 December 2022}}

With seven minutes to go, Niclas Füllkrug, also a substitute, equalized for Germany when he lashed the ball with his right foot high past Spanish goalkeeper Unai Simón from the right. Leroy Sané nearly won the contest for Germany in stoppage time when he was through on goal, but the ball eventually went out of bounds after he ran out of space to run.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2022/nov/27/spain-v-germany-world-cup-2022-live|title=Spain 1 Germany 1: As it happened|date=27 November 2022|work=The Guardian|access-date=1 December 2022}}

The teams previously faced each other once in 2001, a friendly won 1–0 by Spain.{{cite news |title=Spain national football team: record v Japan |url=https://www.11v11.com/teams/spain/tab/opposingTeams/opposition/Japan/ |access-date=28 September 2023 |website=11v11.com}}

After Álvaro Morata scored with a header from five yards out after a cross from César Azpilicueta on the right to give Spain a 1–0 half-time lead, Ritsu Dōan equalized for Japan early into the second period, with his strike from outside the penalty area overpowering goalkeeper Unai Simón and going into the top right corner of the net. Ao Tanaka put Japan in front just three minutes later with a close range finish, with the assist coming from a cut-back by Kaoru Mitoma on the left, seeing the ball hover within millimeters of the left sideline.{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2022/12/01/japan-vs-spain-world-cup-2022-live-score-pedri-group-e/|title=Japan vs Spain result: VAR gives Japan victory and puts Germany out of World Cup|first1=Sam|last1=Dean|first2=James|last2=Ducker|first3=Daniel|last3=Zeqiri|newspaper=The Telegraph |date=1 December 2022}} This would prove to be the decisive goal, as Japan won 2–1 to top Group E ahead of Spain and Germany, the latter being eliminated in the first round for the second tournament in a row.

Due to the tightness of the call, the circumstances surrounding Japan's second goal sparked much discussion.{{cite news|url=https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/explained-why-japan-second-goal-spain-controversially-allowed-var/blt78d3cdd7144ece65|title=Explained: Why Japan's second goal against Spain was controversially allowed by VAR despite ball appearing to be out of play|website=Goal.com}} The live television camera angle created an optical illusion as if the pass to Tanaka was out of bounds, and the video assistant referee took several minutes to confirm that a sliver of the ball stayed in the field, making it a valid goal. The crucial evidence that settled the dispute was the bird's eye photo taken by Petr David Josek, released by the Associated Press after the match. Josek revealed that a total of four agencies — AP, Reuters, AFP and Getty Images — were approved to enter the suspended catwalk to take bird's eye photos, but the latter three missed the shot because they were at the opposite side of the pitch anticipating a Spanish goal instead.{{cite news|title=AP photo catches key moment before Japan’s World Cup goal|work=Associated Press News|first=Ciarán |last=Fahey|date=2022-12-02|url=https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-middle-east-international-82a14c07535319540767aaae1f1ce6e5|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221222152611/https://apnews.com/article/world-cup-sports-soccer-middle-east-international-82a14c07535319540767aaae1f1ce6e5|archivedate=2022-12-22}}{{cite news|title=三笘薫"奇跡の1ミリ"、あの証拠写真を撮影した外国人カメラマンに直撃取材「なぜ撮れた？」「地上50mからニッポンのゴールを待っていた」|last=齋藤裕|work=Sports Graphic Number |publisher=Bungeishunju|date=4 December 2022|url=https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/855640|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20230822051828/https://number.bunshun.jp/articles/-/855640|archivedate=22 August 2023}}

Japan's victory with only 18% of possession was the lowest for a winning side at a FIFA World Cup match since records began in 1966. The match would later draw comparisons with the Japan women's team's 4–0 win against Spain at the 2023 Women's World Cup, with Japan's mere 23% possession also breaking the record for lowest by a winning side at the tournament (since recordings began in 2011).{{cite news|title=The lowest share of possession for a winning side |work=Opta Joe|date=31 July 2023|url=https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1685940156623413249}} Both the men's and women's team showed a similar tactical plan against their Spanish counterparts.{{cite news|title=Japan are the best side at the World Cup so far – Spain didn’t know how to cope with them|work=The Athletic|date=31 July 2023|first=Michael|last=Cox|url=https://theathletic.com/4735279/2023/07/31/japan-spain-womens-world-cup/}} Japan's progression from the group marked the first time they ever reached the knockout stage in consecutive World Cups.{{cite web | url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/world-cup/world-cup-shock-as-germany-dumped-out-after-japan-stun-spain-in-dramatic-finale-42189474.html | title=World Cup shock as Germany dumped out after Japan stun Spain in dramatic finale |publisher=The Independent}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63829718|title=World Cup 2022: Did it cross the line? Germany out as Japan and Spain progress|date=1 December 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2 December 2022}}

The teams had only met once prior, when hosts Germany defeated Costa Rica 4–2 in the opening match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.{{cite news |title=Germany 4–2 Costa Rica |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/4852498.stm |access-date=1 April 2022 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=9 June 2006}}

After taking the lead in the first half through Serge Gnabry, Germany would be pegged pack in the second period following goals from Costa Rica scored by Yeltsin Tejeda and Juan Pablo Vargas. Germany would quickly rally back with a brace from Kai Havertz and a late effort converted by Niclas Füllkrug to win the match 4–2, the same scoreline as the teams' previous World Cup encounter.

Despite the victory, Germany were still edged out of second place in the group by Spain, as a result of the latter's superior goal difference. This meant that the 2014 champions had failed to reach the knockout stage in the two subsequent tournaments following their last World Cup title (having finished bottom of their group in 2018), the same fate that befell 2006 winners Italy in 2010 and 2014.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/63829138|title=World Cup 2022: 'Germany exit as a fallen giant of world football'|date=1 December 2022|work=BBC Sport|access-date=2 December 2022}} Costa Rica exited the competition as the team with the worst goal differential, in spite of the fact they won one of their three matches.

Fair play points would have been used as tiebreakers if the overall and head-to-head records of teams were tied. These were calculated based on yellow and red cards received in all group matches as follows:

• first yellow card: −1 point;
• indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
• direct red card: −4 points;
• yellow card and direct red card: −5 points;

Only one of the above deductions was applied to a player in a single match.

• Costa Rica at the FIFA World Cup
• Germany at the FIFA World Cup
• Japan at the FIFA World Cup
• Spain at the FIFA World Cup

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Group E}}

Category:2022 FIFA World Cup

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