World Cup
World Cup Group Stage preview: Big European sides can’t afford to be complacent
The 2022 FIFA World Cup is now in full swing as the tournament approaches the halfway mark of the first week. With a huge four games every day during the group stages, the fixtures keeping coming thick and fast.
We preview three upcoming matches below.
Wednesday 23rd November 2022
Germany v Japan (Group E) – 13:00
Germany find themselves in a curious vein of form coming into this tournament, winning just two of their last eight fixtures across all competitions and recording just one clean sheet in that time, which culminated in a disappointing third-place finish in their Nations League group. The Germans however usually know how to step it up during major tournaments, exemplified by their 2014 World Cup final victory in Brazil at the expense of Argentina.
The come into their tournament opener against Japan as comfortable 4/9 favourites, though they will have to warn against complacency to ensure their campaign gets off to a strong start. Japan are a very capable side; well-drilled and cerebral in possession, though they sometimes lack attacking impetus to really hurt some of the better teams. They too arrive at this tournament in average form, winning two of their last six games in all competitions, and will start Wednesday’s game as 13/2 underdogs.
Given both sides’ absence of momentum coming into this fixture, under 2.5 goals at 11/10 could be an appealing punt. Germany do not have a recognised striker in their usual starting XI, with Kai Havertz the preferred choice to lead the line. The Chelsea forward is mercurial and elegant in possession, but seldom puts up the numbers to really worry opponents.
Winger Leroy Sane has continued his impressive domestic form for Bayern, netting nine goals in 17 matches, and is a 9/2 shot to net the first goal on Wednesday. Meanwhile, watch out for Club Brugge striker Ayase Ueda, who has scored seven goals in 17 games for the Belgian side, and can be backed at 9/2 to score anytime.
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Spain v Costa Rica (Group E) – 16:00
It’s difficult to assess how much of a threat this Spain team pose nowadays. Their dominant era at the start of the last decade – where they won three successive major tournaments – is certainly over, but they still possess a strong squad that blends experience and youth alongside its evergreen technical elegance.
Their midfield embodies this in particular – the knowledge and wisdom of Sergio Busquets, combined with the skill and youth of Pedri and Gavi. You can bet this Spain side will pass just about any nation off the park, and they come into this fixture as overwhelming 1/7 favourites having won seven of their last ten games in all competitions.
Costa Rica are ranked the third best nation in the North, Central American and Caribbean section of World Cup qualifying (CONCAF). They too come into this tournament in strong form, likewise winning seven of their last ten fixtures, including an impressive 2-0 victory against the USA back in March. Despite their recent sequence of games, they understandably come into this match as huge 22/1 underdogs.
In terms of personnel, Atletico Madrid forward Alvaro Morata is the only recognised striker in the Spain squad, and he has seen his odds to score first boosted from 13/5 to 7/2. Meanwhile, former Arsenal forward Joel Campbell is deemed to be the biggest threat to this Spain backline, and can be backed at 15/2 to net anytime.
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Belgium v Canada (Group F) – 19:00
In similar vein to Spain, there is a feeling that Belgium’s golden generation is slowly coming to an end, though this has more of a terminal feel to it. The Red Devils’ ageing squad has too often come up short in major tournaments , and there is certainly a sense of last chance saloon for a lot of these players.
Their team remains intimidating on paper, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Yannick Carrasco and Kevin de Bruyne supporting all-time top-scorer Romelu Lukaku up front, but too many of these players are fighting an uphill battle against poor domestic form and frequent injuries. They nonetheless arrive in their tournament opener against Canada on Wednesday as comfortable 1/2 favourites, despite losing their last two games against Egypt and the Netherlands.
Canada come into this tournament in indifferent form, winning two of their last six games and keeping just one clean sheet in those fixtures, though they had an impressive qualifying campaign that saw them snatch the last place in Group F. They will face group favourites Belgium as 11/2 outsiders, somewhat justifiable given their world ranking of 41.
It’s difficult to look past a Belgium victory here, though their odds to triumph seem difficult to squeeze any value out of. With that in mind, Belgium to win to nil, Canada to receive the most cards and Belgium to be awarded the most corners can be backed at 24/5.
Romelu Lukaku’s injury means it’s another former Chelsea striker in Michy Batshuayi who will likely lead the line for the Belgians, and he can be found at 3/1 to open the scoring in this fixture. As for Canada, Jonathan David undoubtedly poses the biggest threat to this ageing Belgian back line, and is 19/5 to net anytime on Wednesday.
