Germany vs Japan: Flick to kick Blue Samurai into touch
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World Cup 2022: Germany vs Japan odds, preview and tips
Germany are likely to be fighting it out with Spain for top spot in Group E, but the four-time World Cup winners get their campaign under way against Japan on Wednesday.
Despite a troubled few years, Die Mannschaft are 11/1 in the World Cup winner odds and evens to top Group E behind 10/11 favourites Spain.
Punters looking at the Germany winning odds will not be surprised to see they are 4/9 to beat the Blue Samurai, who are 6/1 as we look at some of the main talking points.
You can also read our World Cup Group E guide by clicking on the link.
Germany vs Japan form
Four years ago Germany humiliatingly finished bottom of their World Cup group following defeats by Mexico and South Korea either side of a stoppage-time win against Sweden.
Since then, the Germans were crushed 6-0 by Spain in 2020, lost at home to North Macedonia in an otherwise successful World Cup qualifying campaign and were beaten by England in the round of 16 at last year’s European Championship, Joachim Low’s last game in charge of the national team.
Hansi Flick’s side won just one of their six Nations League games, but still finished four points clear of bottom-of-the-table England in third place, so despite their talented squad, it has been a bit of rocky ride since the 2018 World Cup.
Germany have won just one of their last seven games against tough opponents, but in matches against lesser lights they have won comfortably in the last 12 months.
They are 6/5 to win by at least two goals in the World Cup odds, while Kai Havertz can be backed at 16/5 to outscore the opposition given he is likely to get the nod in the absence of the injured Timo Werner.
Japan, appearing in their seventh successive finals after an ultimately comfortable qualifying campaign, are 12/1 to win the group or 5/2 to reach the knockout stage and will be encouraged by a 1-0 defeat by Brazil in June followed by victories against South Korea and the USA.
They have not conceded in their last five games, so Flick’s side to win and under 3.5 goals at 13/10 in the World Cup betting makes the cut in our Germany v Japan betting tips.
Germany vs Japan head to head
The nations met in a couple of friendlies in 2004 and 2006, with Germany winning the first 3-0 although in a World Cup warm-up two years later Jurgen Klinsmann’s experimental side had to come back from two goals down in a 2-2 draw.
Japan can be backed at 17/5 to pick up a point in their first competitive meeting with the Germans or it’s 17/4 for a share of the spoils and goals at both ends.
Germany vs Japan team news
Flick is likely to deploy a 4-2-3-1 formation in which Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka play in the holding midfield roles, but Leroy Sane is out with a knee injury sustained in training.
Jamal Musiala has been superb for Bayern Munich this season and started the 3-3 Nations League draw playing just behind Havertz, who scored twice that day.
Seventeen members of Japan’s 26-man squad play in Europe, but they rarely get the chance to test themselves against quality international opposition and are likely to follow the group stage-round of 16 alternating pattern that has made up their last six appearances at the World Cup.
Reims winger Junya Ito will be the man to watch for a Japan side that could prove hard to breach, although a 3-0 home defeat by Tunisia in the Kirin Cup means their defence is hardly invincible.
Karou Mitoma (illness) and Wataru Endo (head) are both available for Japan.
Germany vs Japan goalscorer odds
As you would expect, German players dominate the goalscorer markets, with Havertz and Gnabry 4/1 co-favourites to break the deadlock.
Gnabry has scored nine goals for Bayern Munich in all competitons this season, including a hat-trick in a 6-1 victory over Werder Bremen earlier this month, but has failed to find the net for his country in his last six appearances.
Former England U21 international Musiala is 11/2 and 15/8 after a superb season with the Bundesliga champions.
Celtic striker Daizen Maeda and Shuto Machino are both 9/1 to grab the game’s first goal for Japan.
Match Info
Where: Khalifa International Stadium, Al Rayyan
When: 13:00, Wednesday 23rd November
How to watch: ITV
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
