With Spain drawn in the same group as Germany at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the clash between the two European heavyweights was heralded as the match to watch during the opening stages in Qatar. Now, after the results of the first day, there is even more importance in the match in Group E on Sunday.
2010 World Cup winners Spain began their group campaign in style, thrashing Costa Rica 7-0. For Germany, however, the four-time world champions suffered a shock 2-1 defeat against Japan, which has left their qualification chances in the balance.
Both teams could make “a return to success”, Ian King told Football365. But Germany “probably needs it more.” Four years ago in Russia, “Die Mannschaft” finished bottom of Group G when they were knocked out at the first hurdle, and defeat to Spain on Sunday could see them face the same situation.
A “debacle” was how German newspaper Bild described the defeat against Japan on Wednesday, while Welt said the national team had made “fools” again at the start of a major tournament, after of losing 1-0 to Mexico in their 2018 World Cup opener.
The last time the two teams met Spain hammered Germany 6-0 in a UEFA Nations League match in November 2020. The Germans have not won a competitive match against La Roja since 2-0 win at Euro 1988.
Contents
match facts
- Who: Spain vs Germany
- What: Matchday two of FIFA World Cup Group E
- When: Sunday, November 27, 2022
- Where: Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor
- Start time: 19:00 (all time GMT)
How to watch TV in the UK
Sunday’s Group E clash between Spain and Germany can be seen live in the UK on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Television coverage starts at 6.30pm and the match starts at 7pm.
Team news
Spanish coach Luis Enrique could keep the same 11 that started against Costa Rica. However, he changed half of his field with five substitutions. Trying to “guess” Enrique is “a thankless task”, Gray Whitebloom told 90min.com.
Germany winger Leroy Sane missed the defeat against Japan with a knee injury and is a doubt for Sunday’s game. Head coach Hansi Flick is not expected to make too many changes, but could introduce Niclas Füllkrug in place of Kai Havertz in attack.
Possible starting XI
- Spain: Simon; Azpilicueta, Rodri, Laporte, Alba; Gavi, Busquets, Pedri; Torres, Asensio, Olmo
- Germany: News; Kehrer, Rüdiger, Schlotterbeck, Raum; Kimmich, Gundogan; Gnabry, Müller, Musiala; filling vase
Predictions
Spain were “brazen in front of goal” against Costa Rica and “came to victory” last time they faced Germany, Oliver Thomas told SportsMole. However, expect a “tighter affair” on Sunday. While Germany are “certainly going to be excited” for this crucial clash, “we can see Enrique’s side come out on top”, which could end Die Mannschaft’s brief spell in Qatar. Prediction: Spain 2 Germany 0.
That’s “hard to call,” Chris Sutton told the BBC. Germany is “incoherent”, but you can see how Hansi Flick wants to play. They will try to “take the game” to Spain, but this is “very dangerous”. Sutton can see the game ending in a draw, which “wouldn’t knock Germany out” but leave them “on the brink of a group stage exit” for a second World Cup in a row. Prediction: Spain 1 Germany 1.
This is a meeting between two teams who know “little else apart from monopolizing possession”, Gray Whitebloom told 90min.com. In what is predicted to be an “intriguing contest that may be much more even than its early results may suggest,” this heavyweight duo could “could” pull off an entertaining draw. Prediction: Spain 2 Germany 2.
In what could turn out to be a “World Cup-defining match” for both nations, there is already “serious, serious danger” in this mouth-watering clash, Squawka said. Germany “must win” against Spain, or “it could be curtains”. Prediction: Spain 1 Germany 1.
the stadium
The 60,000-capacity Al Bayt Stadium in the city of Al Khor will host nine matches at Qatar 2022, including a quarter-final and a semi-final. Its design is inspired by the tents historically used in the Gulf region.
squads
Spain
- Head Coach: Luis Enrique
- Key Player: Peter
- One to watch: seagull
- Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Club), Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion), David Raya (Brentford FC)
- Defenders: Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea FC), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Eric Garcia (FC Barcelona), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia CF), Pau Torres (Villarreal CF), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Jordi Alba (FC Barcelona), Jose Gaya (Valencia CF)
- Midfielders: Sergio Busquets (FC Barcelona), Rodri Hernandez (Manchester City), Gavi (FC Barcelona), Carlos Soler (Paris St Germain), Marcos Llorente (Atletico de Madrid), Pedri Gonzalez (FC Barcelona), Koke Resurreccion (Atletico de Madrid)
- Fronts: Ferran Torres (FC Barcelona), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Yeremi Pi (Villarreal CF), Alvaro Morata (Atletico de Madrid), Marc Asensio (Real Madrid), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain), Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig ), Ansu Fati (FC Barcelona)
Germany
- Head Coach: Hansi Flick
- Key Player: Manuel Neuer
- One to watch: Jamal Musiala
- Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Eintracht Frankfurt)
- Defenders: Armel Bella-Kotchap (Southampton), Matthias Ginter (SC Freiburg), Christian Gunter (SC Freiburg), Thilo Kehrer (West Ham), Lukas Klostermann (RB Leipzig), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Niklas Sule (Borussia Dortmund)
- Midfielders: Julian Brandt (Borussia Dortmund), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Jonas Hofmann (RB Leipzig), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
- Fronts: Karim Adeyemi (Borussia Dortmund), Niclas FullKrug (Werder Bremen), Serge Gnabry (Bayern Munich), Mario Gotze (Eintracht Frankfurt), Kai Havertz (Chelsea), Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Bayern Munich)
Group E table, results and matches
Wednesday 23 November
- Germany 1 Japan 2
- Spain 7 Costa Rica 0
Sunday November 27
- Japan v Costa Rica (Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium; 10am; ITV)
- Spain v Germany (Al Bayt Stadium; 19:00; BBC)
Thursday, December 1
- Japan v Spain (Khalifa International Stadium; 19:00; ITV)
- Costa Rica v Germany (Al Bayt Stadium; 19:00; ITV)
Source: Spain vs. Germany predictions, preview, team news – Fifa World Cup group E
