Germany are very much in danger of being knocked out of the group phase if they fail to win today against Costa Rica. Even winning against Costa Rica may not be good enough to qualify for the next round if the Japan vs Spain match doesn't go in their favour. Germany of Group E will therefore be the major focus on Day 12 of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Let's examine the scenarios for Groups E and F.
Group E
The Al Bayt Stadium will host the game between Germany and Costa Rica, while the Khalifa International Stadium will host the match between Japan and Spain. Both games will begin at one in the morning on Friday (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Germany vs Costa Rica
Germany are not considered the outright favorites for the FIFA World Cup 2022, but no one thought they would be in danger of being knocked out in the group phase. Germany may well go home after today’s fixture if they fail to win against Costa Rica and Japan snatch a point against Spain. So, their chances of reaching the Round of 16 phase depend on ifs and buts.
Costa Rica have found itself in a good position to qualify for the next round after beating Japan 1-0 in their second match. Beating Germany will secure their place in the Round of 16. Given Germany’s current form, Costa Rica can dare to dream of another upset in the Qatar 2022 event.
Japan vs Spain
Japan have a great chance to move on to the next round if they manage to draw against Spain. The Japanese side has already proved that they can upset big teams by defeating Germany in their opening fixture. But at the same time, they have made their task a bit harder by losing their second fixture against Costa Rica 1-0. One thing is sure: Japan will go for everything in this encounter against Spain.
Spain started their campaign with a thumping 7-0 victory over Costa Rica. They have won the hearts of millions of football fans by displaying some magical performances on the field. With a strong goal difference, one can expect Spain to move on to the next round even if they lose against Japan.
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Group F
The Al Thumama Stadium will host the Canada vs. Morocco game, while the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium will host the Croatia vs. Belgium game. Both games will get underway at 9 p.m. (Bangladesh Standard Time).
Croatia vs Belgium
Belgium were pre-tournament favorites to win the FIFA World Cup in 2022, but they haven't lived up to expectations. Belgium’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Canada showed their shortcomings, and the next game they made a blunder by losing 2-0 to Morocco. Now their contest against Croatia is a do-or-die one. If Belgium loses this match, they will be eliminated from the competition after the group stage.
Croatia showed their true prowess in their last encounter with Canada. Despite the fact that Croatia is considered an older team, the players' experience ultimately made the difference. They should expect a tough battle from Belgium, so this fixture promises to be an exciting one.
Canada vs Morocco
Morocco are in a stronger position than Belgium and Croatia to finish at the top of Group F. They have 4 points and expect to beat Canada in their last match of the group phase. Morocco will have 7 points if they overcome Canada, which will be good enough to go to the next round.
Canada are already out of the competition after losing their first two matches. Their aim will now be to finish the tournament on a high note by defeating Morocco in their final fixture.
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Aftermath
The match between four-time champion Germany and Costa Rica will command the majority of football fans' attention. Germany may be knocked out of the group stage for the second time in a row, which would be a huge blow. Besides, Belgium’s qualification for the Round of 16 is also in jeopardy. A couple of big teams may well be out of the tournament after today’s fixtures, which make Day 12 of the Qatar World Cup 2022 intriguing.