Pass control football becomes the main theme
Group E is recognized as the "group of death" of the Qatar World Cup. The match between Germany and Spain will be the only championship-level contest in the group stage; Costa Rica has also experienced a major upset.
Who has a deeper foundation in transmission and control is the biggest point of view in this group.
Spain transplanted Barcelona's transmission control "hypnosis" tactics, which once led the trend of world football; Germany started tactical reform in 2006, and the tough style of play was gradually replaced by beautiful football and efficient football. Japan, on the other hand, perfectly integrates samba football with its own small and fast-moving characteristics.
The three passing and controlling divisions will face Costa Rica, which is known for its defensive counterattacks, and it will be a real offensive and defensive duel.
Germany and Spain have deep traditions and have consistently performed consistently in intercontinental competitions. Although Japan and Costa Rica have distinct tactical characteristics, their hard power is still not enough to disturb the overall situation of the group's competition for hegemony.
Center shortage becomes "French chariot" fatal injury
Germany is one of the most stable and old-fashioned teams in the history of the World Cup. It has advanced to the finals 20 times and won the Hercules Cup four times. In the four World Cups between 2002 and 2014, it has won a championship, Asia and two third places.
The 2018 World Cup in Russia stopped the group stage as the defending champion, which is the team's worst record in the World Cup.
Excellent psychological quality, strict tactical discipline and steel-like will quality are the labels of German football.
After the 2018 World Cup and the 2020 European Cup suffered consecutive blows, Flick took over from Loew, who had been in charge of the German team for 15 years. The former brought the successful experience of completing the "Triple Crown" in Bayern to the country. The slightly protracted positional warfare of the "German Chariot" has gradually transitioned to a fierce high-position pressing.
From the perspective of the lineup, Germany's defense is led by Neuer and Rudiger. Kimmich has grown into a versatile midfielder. On the offensive end, wingers are still clustered together, and the shortage of centers is an old problem. Sane, Gnabry They are all good players in breaking through from the side. In recent years, new stars such as Musiala and Havertz have emerged, but the problem of "center shortage" in the 2018 World Cup has still not been solved.
Since Klose and Gomez, the German team has always lacked a central striker with superb shooting skills. Now after Werner’s injury to the World Cup, this disadvantage is even more obvious. Flick’s second plan is likely to be used in the Bundesliga this season. Bremen center Phil Kruger has performed well.
"Matador" star bleak newcomer alone
Spain has advanced to the World Cup finals for the 16th time. In the era of Aragones and Bosque, it dominated the world football with its passing control style that was ahead of the trend at the time. From 2008 to 2012, in addition to winning the Hercules Cup for the first time in 2010, it also He won the European Cup twice, but Bosque's blind reliance on veterans in the following years resulted in the team failing to complete the transition between the old and the new.
Since Enrique took over as the coach in 2019, he has inherited the Spanish traditional 433 formation and passing control tactics. On the basis of getting together and infiltrating short passes in the midfield, he pays more attention to advancing speed.
The current team's lineup is characterized by the old and the new. Not only are there experienced veterans such as Busquets and Alba, but also new stars such as Pedri, Garvey, Ferran Torres, etc., especially Pedri has become a "bullfighting". the core of the "scholar".
The 19-year-old Barcelona midfielder has impeccable footwork and ball-handling ability and has been dubbed Spain's "next Iniesta" by Barcelona coach Xavi.
Although Morata's position as the fulcrum of the attack at the center position is unshakable, his lack of shooting skills is the biggest obstacle to his path to the top center.
Most of Spain's midfield and frontcourt pass control functional players, but the starlight is slightly bleak compared to previous years, and there is a lack of stable scoring points that are finalized. Once encountering an "iron barrel" or tough battle, this weakness will be infinitely magnified.
Japan's luxury brigade in Europe is on par with second-tier European teams
Japan has advanced to the World Cup finals for the 7th time. It has not missed the World Cup in France since 1998, and has reached the top 16 three times in 2002, 2010 and 2018. It is the Asian team that has performed best on the world's top stage in recent years.
Japan learned from samba football in its early years, and after years of forging, it has gradually developed its own football style.
The explosive growth of players in Europe has allowed Japanese football to take off.
In the 26-man list announced by the Japanese team coach Mori Baoichi, there are as many as 20 players in Europe, and the main players in each position are almost from the five major leagues.
On the offensive end, Takumi Minamino on the left and Jun Ito on the right are also expected to fly on both sides. The two are characterized by strong breakthrough ability and excellent skills at the feet. In particular, the latter's strong breakthrough has become Japan's offensive magic weapon. .
Kamada Dadi has become the core of Frankfurt's midfield with his broad vision, great handling of the ball, and super high football IQ. Kubo Jianying has also proved his strength at Real Madrid and Real Sociedad, while Miyao Kaoru, who plays for Brighton in the Premier League It is another rising star.
On the defensive end, Arsenal's central defender Fuan Jianyang is the mainstay. He will take on the defensive responsibility with three veterans: Eiji Kawashima, Yuto Nagato and Maya Yoshida.
The Japanese team has the strength to compete with the second-tier teams in Europe. This is the confidence of Mori Baoichi to put forward the goal of the quarter-finals. The team has the ability to act as a spoiler in Group E, but being trapped in the "Death Group" makes it difficult for them to qualify.
Costa Rica has topped the "Group of Death"
Costa Rica has advanced to the World Cup finals for the sixth time, with the best result being the quarter-finals of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
The "Group of Death" is no stranger to Costa Rica. They were in the same group as Italy, England, and Uruguay in the 2014 World Cup. They were originally "accompanying the prince to study" in the eyes of the outside world, but they finally shocked the world fans: group stage Defeated Uruguay 3-1, Italy 1-0, and England 0-0, and finally made it to the top with an unbeaten record of 2 wins and 1 draw, and eliminated Greece on penalties in the round of 16, even in the quarter-finals. , is also a fierce battle to a penalty shootout lost to the Netherlands.
Since 2014, Costa Rica's lineup has not been connected, the talent has been faulty, and the young players are slightly immature.
The current lineup is dominated by players from local leagues and the Americas. There are very few players playing in the five major European leagues. The core is still the 35-year-old Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Navas and the 37-year-old midfielder Ruiz.
In this civilian team, the striker Joel Campbell, who once played for Arsenal, will play the role of the final word. The last train of the World Cup.
The 18-year-old left winger Bennett, who plays for the British Championship team Sunderland, is fast and explosive, and will be a sharp sword in Costa Rica's defense and counter tactics.
Although Costa Rica has the experience of qualifying in the "Group of Death", there is a huge gap between the top three in the same group in terms of hard power and competition experience, and its defensive counterattack may not be useful. very limited.
Yangcheng Evening News reporter Chai Zhi
"Yangcheng Evening News" November 9, 2022 A11 edition