Spain vs Germany prediction and betting tip, World Cup 2022

Spain vs Germany: it is undoubtedly the prettiest fixture in the group stage of the 2022 World Cup. Things are serious for the Germans, as they lost their first World Cup match to Japan. With a second win, the Spaniards can already cautiously prepare for the eighth finals. In this preview, we look ahead to this clash between Spain and Germany. We do so with the odds at the bookmakers, a prediction and, of course, our betting tip.

Spain World Cup 2022 – Latest Team News and Statistics

Spain qualified for the 2022 World Cup without too much shine. It became the winner of Group B, trailing Sweden in the last two matches. La Roja won the last four duels and only gave up five goals in eight games in total World Cup qualification. This was offset by ‘only’ 15 goals: only against Kosovo and Georgia did the Spaniards score more than twice.

All the more surprising was Spain’s opening game at the 2022 World Cup. In it, they swept Costa Rica completely off the mat. After half an hour it was already 3-0 and in the second half Luis Enrique’s men went even further. In the end, it was 7-0, thanks to six different goal scorers. The Costa Ricans did not even fire a single shot.

The Spanish selection is not as strong as in, say, 2010, but there are still some big names running around. The midfield is indicative of La Selección: Sergio Busquets represents the veterans, Gavi and Pedri the future. That Spain is in transition was already evident at the 2014 World Cup. As defending champions, it then already flew out in the group stage, partly due to a hefty defeat against the Netherlands (1-5).

Germany World Cup 2022 – Latest Team News and Statistics

Germany qualified for the World Cup in Qatar a lot more convincingly. In the third round of play it surprisingly lost to North Macedonia (1-2) in Duisburg, but in the remaining nine matches Die Mannschaft did not spill a single point. With a goal difference of 36-4, the difference with the North Macedonians was ultimately no less than nine points.

Hansi Flick’s selection is wide, and so we can count Germany among the favourites at the 2022 World Cup. In the opening match, the Germans did not yet confirm that role. For a long time, there seemed to be no problem, until Japan found the net twice in the closing stages. Ilkay Gündogan’s opening goal was suddenly worth nothing and the Asians took the full spoils (1-2). Leroy Sané was missing in that game due to a knee injury. Timo Werner and Marco Reus dropped out before the World Cup.

The match against Spain is therefore immediately a very important one for Germany. If it suffers a second defeat, a place in the knockout phase seems almost impossible. It would be the second time in a row that Germany stranded in the group stage of a World Cup. In the 18 participations before that, it had never happened. At the World Cup in Russia, it went wrong against South Korea and Mexico.

Spain – Germany Previous encounters

This match will be the 26th encounter between Spain and Germany. The most fraught encounters took place at the 2008 European Championship and 2010 World Cup. The Spaniards won both matches 1-0. They thus crowned themselves European champions and qualified for the World Cup final, in which it won over the Netherlands. Spain and Germany last met in November 2020. With a 6-0 victory for La Roja, it became the most goal-rich encounter ever. Ferran Torres was the big man with three goals.