Germany vs. Japan: 2022 World Cup Odds and Prediction

Jordan Ramsay
November 22, 2022

Germany will look to return to the form that saw Die Mannschaft win the 2014 World Cup when they open Group E play against Japan at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on Wednesday. The Germans failed to advance past the group stage at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, while Japan nearly pulled off a major upset against Belgium in the Round of 16.

Germany is a -307 favourite to win on the World Cup odds, while Japan is a +749 underdog. A draw is pegged at +401, while Over 2.5 goals is favoured at -152.

Germany -274
Draw +406
Japan +621

Germany vs. Japan Betting Odds

There’s not much history between these teams as they have met just twice, both games being international friendlies. Germany has the only win in the all-time series, downing Japan 3-0 in 2004. The countries haven’t met since a 2-2 draw in 2006.

Germany is -256 to score first on Wednesday, with Niclas Fullkrug favoured to get the goal at +540. They have the second-best odds to win Group E at +113. Despite finishing last in their group four years ago, the Germans are +3082 long shots to do so again in Qatar.

Japan is +210 to open the scoring against Germany, with Daizen Maeda and Shuto Machino each sitting at +1200 to get the goal. Team Japan is +1075 to win Group E. They are +256 to finish last in the group, trailing only Costa Rica at -206.

Team Germany

Germany sits at No. 11 in the world rankings heading into this tournament. They’ve played in 18 previous World Cups, qualifying every year they were eligible. Germany has won four World Cups, appearing in a record eight finals. They have finished in the top three of the tournament 12 times, with 2018 being the first time since 1998 they didn’t get a top three result. Their 1-0 opening match loss to Mexico in 2018 was the first time they hadn’t secured all three points in an opening match since 1986.

Hansi Flick takes over coaching duties in Qatar from the legendary Joachim Low. Outside of host country Qatar, Germany was the fist team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, finishing atop UEFA Group J with nine wins, one loss and a plus-32 goal differential. Serge Gnabry, Ilkay Gundogan and Timo Werner tied for the Group J goalscoring lead with five apiece. Germany’s last tuneup game was a 1-0 win against Oman on Nov. 16.

There are no major injuries heading into the first match. A player to watch out for is veteran Thomas Muller. A member of the 2014 World Cup winning team, Muller has 10 goals and six assists in 16 career World Cup matches.

Team Japan

Ranked No. 24 in the world, this will be Japan’s seventh World Cup appearance. They haven’t missed a World Cup since their first qualification in 1998. They’ve made it out of the group stage three times, reaching the Round of 16 in 2002, 2010 and 2018. Japan came heartbreakingly close to a massive upset in 2018, blowing a 2-0 lead to heavily favoured Belgium and allowing the winning goal in stoppage time.

Japan finished qualification with 15 wins, two losses, one draw and a record 58 goals. They breezed through the second-round of qualifying with a perfect 8-0-0 record before going 7-1-2 in the third and final round of qualification. Takumi Minamino and Yuya Osako were Japan’s top goalscorers in qualification with 10 goals each. Japan’s last friendly before the tournament ended in a 2-1 loss to Canada.

There is a possibility midfielder Hidemasa Morita won’t be ready to return from a calf injury that has been bothering him. Right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu was rested against Canada due to a muscle issue, but he is expected to be ready for the start of the tournament.