After a surprise 2-1 loss in their World Cup debut against Japan, Germany will face this Sunday from 16 (Public TV) to Spain in the Al Bayt stadium, for the second date of Group E, pivotal meeting in their aspirations to continue in the World Cup Qatar 2022.
The Spaniards come from a categorical 7-0 victory against Costa Rica, they will seek secure the pass to eighth final and head towards the goal of becoming world champion again, as in South Africa 2010.
The coach Luis Enrique slipped who will present a line change in the initial formation against a powerful team like Germany, four times world champion, and that a very difficult match awaits them.
“If anyone knows how to compete, it’s Germany.if someone is prepared to change its dynamics it is Germany. Its history is there and it has top world players. But we have the conviction that we can win That’s why we’re going,” declared the DT.
after being asked in his live on Twitch about how he would react if Ferran Torres, partner of his daughter Sira, celebrated a goal in the World Cup making the gesture of the pacifierLuis Enrique I do not doubt: “If he scores a goal, I will be very happy. As I make the gesture of the pacifier, I change it at the moment, I put it in the stands and it does not step on a lawn again. Jokes, the fair ones, “she settled.
Luis Enrique also left a message for those who criticize the call for young peoplebut then they praise his level in the matches. “The same thing they accuse you of when you lose, then they praise you when you win”he assured.
on your side, the German team led by Hansi Flick has no margin for error, since a new defeat will leave him eliminated in the first round, like in Russia 2018.
The former Bayern Munich coach said that his team “has no more bullets left to spend”since the only one they could waste was against the Japanese, when they won by playing at a high level and creating many scoring situations, although they turned it around in the plugin.
“This continues and we have to show character. We have quality, we must ensure that each player extracts the maximum potential from his game. You have to win to be able to enjoy one last chance on the final date against Costa Rica,” he assumed. flick.
In Germany, the attacker Leroy Sané, who was absent against Japan due to a knee injury, could return, although not from the beginning.
The immediate precedent between both Europeans It was two years ago for the League of Nations and the result was a 6-0 win for Spain.
the one of this sunday It will be the fifth duel between the two powers in a World Cup. “La Furia” won the last for the minimum, in the semi-finals of South Africa 2010and then it would get its first star.
In group phases previous were measured in England 1966 and Spain 1982, that they had Germany as the winner (2-1 in both cases), and in the United States 1994 (1-1 draw).
Play the last runner-up
The selected of Croatia, current world runner-up and that in its premiere left an opaque image drawing against Morocco, will play this Sunday from 13 (Public TV) off Canada in Khalifa Stadium in Dohaby second date of Group F of World Cup Qatar 2022.
Croatia equalized in the debut without goals against the Moroccansbut making it clear that still a very strong teamwith notable individuals led by Luka Modric, from Real Madrid, but without the freshness that he showed in Russia 2018when he defined the Cup with France.
The quality of the Croatians, with players who shine in great European teams such as Ivan Perisic, Nikola Vlasic, Mateo Kovacic, Dejan Lovren and Andrej Karamaric, gives credit to the formation of Zlatko Dalic, who in Russia beat 3-0 against Argentina.
For his part, Canada had played so far in Mexico 1986 and had three defeats without scoring goals, but against Belgium, despite losing, he left a good image and his figure Alphonso Davis (of Bayern Munich) even missed a penalty, saved by Thibaut Courtois, Belgian goalkeeper, leader of the group.
Japan seeks the eighth
One of the great surprises of the Qatar 2022 World Cup by beating Germany in their debut, Japan will open the Sunday day from 7 (TyC Sports) against Costa Rica at the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, in a match of the Group E that in case of winning could give the classification to the round of 16.
It is not usual for a match to take place between teams with such disparate debuts, since Costa Rica looked like an amateur team as they were thrashed 7-0 by Spain.
If Japan and Spain triumph, the two will reach six points and advance to the round of 16 final, since in this case the Germans and “Ticos” will remain at zero, while any other result between the Europeans will make the match for the third date between the Iberians and the Japanese definitive.
Japan reached the round of 16 three times (2002, 2010 and 2018) and the team led by Hajime Moriyasu -after such a debut against Germany, with a second half for history- wants to specify a new classification.
Costa Ricadirected by the Colombian Luis Suárez and with goalkeeper Keylor Navas, Lionel Messi’s teammate at PSG, he will try to improve his imageBecause you can’t play worse than what you did against Spain.
Belgium also wants to advance
Belgiumwhich will also look for the classification, will meet from 10 (TV: TyC Sports) to Morocco, in Al Thumama stadium in Dohain another of the meetings of the second date of Group F of World Cup Qatar 2022.
Waiting for his injured striker Romelu Lukaku for the second phase, Belgium beat Canada by the minimum in the debut and achieved a key victory in his qualifying aspirations.
By your side, Morocco drew a tie from Croatia, the last world runner-up, and continues in the race in an area where it is, in the previous one, the weakest team.
