World Cup

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World Cup | Group Stage

Nov 23, 2022 at 1pm UK

Germany
1 - 2
Japan

Gundogan (33' pen.)

FT(HT: 1-0)

Doan (75'), Asano (83')

World Cup 2022: Reasons for Germany to be confident of beating Japan

By Carter White | 22 November 2022

Ahead of their opening match in Group E, Sports Mole looks at some reasons why Germany should be confident of collecting all three points against Japan.

Germany start their 2022 World Cup campaign at the Khalifa International Stadium against Japan on Wednesday afternoon as they look to make amends for an embarrassing group-stage exit four years ago in Russia.

As one of the most successful nations in the tournament's history - lifting football's biggest prize on four occasions - Germany fans will be expecting nothing less than progression to the latter stages of proceedings in Qatar despite being in a tough group including previous winners Spain.

Hansi Flick's men face Japan in their first match of the group, with this clash being the first between the two countries on the World Cup stage and only their fourth meeting in any form.

Ahead of the opening match in Group E, Sports Mole looks at some reasons why Germany should be confident of collecting all three points against Japan on Wednesday afternoon.

Quick qualifiers

Germany players pose for a team group photo before the match on September 26, 2022 © Reuters

Apart from the host nation Qatar who automatically qualified for the tournament in 2010, Germany were the first side to book their place at the World Cup following a successful and trouble-free qualification campaign.

Flick's men secured a place on football's grandest stage way back in October 2021, winning nine out of 10 matches in qualification and finishing an extremely-comfortable nine points ahead of second-placed North Macedonia in a six-team group.

Only England (39) managed to score more times in qualification than Germany (36), with Serge Gnabry, Ilkay Gundogan and the injured Timo Werner netting five times each as the 2014 World Cup winners made light work of a group they always seemed likely to top.

Musiala magic

Jamal Musiala celebrates scoring for Bayern Munich on September 30, 2022 © Reuters

Germany may not strike fear into their opponents as strongly as they did in tournaments gone by, but a new wave of German talent looks set to torment World Cup defences in a different way this time around.

Nineteen-year-old Jamal Musiala has enjoyed an eye-catching and productive opening to the Bundesliga campaign with Bayern Munich, providing 15 goal contributions in 14 games, and now the attacker who could have been stepping out for England at this World Cup is one to watch for Die Mannschaft.

The former Chelsea academy player has the ability to glide past defenders with ease as shown in his display against the Three Lions at Wembley in the Nations League, and the youngster could be set to battle it out with Jude Bellingham for the FIFA Young Player Award if Germany are able to progress to the latter stages of the competition.

Opening-game experts

Germany's Philipp Lahm (R) celebrates his goal against Costa Rica with team mates Torsten Frings (C) and Bastian Schweinsteiger during their Group A World Cup 2006 soccer match in Munich June 9, 2006 © Reuters

Germany are no strangers to a perfect start at the World Cup, having failed only once since 1986 to collect maximum points from their opening match at the tournament.

That 1-0 defeat to Mexico in 2018 was a warning sign that all was not right within Joachim Low's camp in Russia, but before that Germany had won seven consecutive opening-game clashes, including 4-0 wins over Australia in 2010 and Portugal in 2014.

Germany are often a prolific force in their World Cup curtain-raiser, and apart from four years ago they have not scored fewer than four goals in their opening World Cup match since 1998 when they had to settle for only a 2-0 win over the USA at the Parc des Princes in Paris.