World Cup Group E Analysis: Old Foes Meet as Luis Enrique’s Young Guns Face the German Machine

• Spain and Germany head into Qatar looking for much better outings compared to the disastrous runs they had in 2018
• Spain's bulk of talent is young players, with Luis Enrigue snubbing long-time servants like Sergio Ramos
• Costa Rica will look to repeat the heroics of 2014 meanwhile, where they got out of a group that had Uruguay, Italy and England

Many have billed this as the group of death but hold on; we aren't there yet. Group E will see two immediate former champions renew their rivalry and we can tell it will be messy.

After disastrous campaigns in 2018, the two teams - who are on a steady rebuild - will be out to exact their dominance once again. But on the sidelines, two unpredictable sides will be watching and plotting closely.

Sports Brief takes a look at all 8 groups, their star attractions, weakness and strongholds as Qatar gets ready to rumble. You can also read here for the analysis of Group A, Group B, Group C. and Group D.

Belgium, Croatia veterans hoping to defy advancing years in Qatar

Football

Germany

• Star player: Thomas Muller
• Rising star: Kai Havertz
• Coach: Hansi Flick
• Sports Brief's predicted finish: Semi-finals
• FIFA Ranking: 11

Hansi Flick's tenure has done little to inspire confidence, with the former Bayern Munich head coach's brand of football self-destructing at times despite a smooth qualification campaign.

Known for his merciless approach to games, Flick's management style resonates well with German culture, but it is yet to yield tangible results. They finished third in their UEFA Nations League group behind 'minnows' Hungary.

The dependable Toni Kroos won't be available after deciding to retire, leaving Leon Goretzka with big shoes to fill. Joshua Kimmich will be preferred as his partner, with Manchester city's Ilkay Gundogan starting from the bench.

Germany has a lot of creative midfielders who can operate just outside the box, but don't have a reliable and proven number 9. Timo Werner's injury has complicated issues further, with Kai Havertz poised to play as a false 9.

Belgium's golden generation face last stand at World Cup

Football

There will also be options of Borussia Dortmund's teenage strikers Karim Adeyemi and Youssofa Moukoko.

Flick's new formation of a back three adds a new attacker to the fold, making it easier to move the ball quicker. Thomas Muller is vital in this system, as he is freer to link the central midfielders with the inverted wingers Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry.

However, Flick has yet to find dependable fullbacks, as his side always conceded in the Nations League after failing to mainly deal with crosses from wide areas.

Die Mannschaft's main advantage is that the opponent never knows where the next goal is coming from. Manuel Neuer, 36, could also play a pivotal role in redeeming their image, having captained them to the disastrous outing in 2018.

Possible XI: Neuer, Rudiger, Sule, Shclotterbeck, Raum, Kehrer, Kimmich, Goretzka, Sane, Muller, Havertz

Spain

• Star player: Pedri
• Rising star: Gavi
• Coach: Luis Enrique
• Sports Brief's predicted finish: Semi-finals
• FIFA Ranking: 7

Carling Black Label Cup: Spectators warned about nearly 8 000 fake tickets being sold at Soccer City

Football

Luis Enrique brings a perfect blend of young players peppered with retiring legends to Qatar. The biggest news was the omission of veterans Sergio Ramos and Thiago Alcantara, but Enrique has a plan.

The former Barcelona manager uses the textbook 4-3-3 formation that depends on patiently working the opponent. It is funny and genius at the same time that Spain's driving forces are the two Barcelona wonderkids.

Pedri and Gavi are poised to be sure starters for Enrique alongside their club captain Sergio Busquests. Despite their diminutive figures, the modern-day Xavi and Iniesta are excellent ball carriers and dribblers, and possess vision beyond their age.

But for all their work, Spain is yet to find a goal scorer in the mould of David Villa. Alvaro Morata will be the lead striker in Qatar, but there is a feeling Enrique might go with a false 9.

Ansu Fati is yet to earn Xavi Hernandez's trust at Barcelona but made the squad anyway. He has shown glimpses coming off the bench for La Blaugrana and he could be important in Enrique's set-up.

Senegal journalist demands Sadio Mane's return for 'local solution' to injury ahead of World Cup

Football

David de Gea's constant snub is down to his inability to play for the back, a key cornerstone of Enrique's tactics.

One way to harm Spain is by depriving them of possession, and no doubt Flick and Germany will have this in mind when they meet on November 27.

Possible XI: Simon, Laporte, Torres, Alba, Azpilicueta, Busquests, Gavi, Pedri, Asensio, Torres, Morata

Costa Rica

• Star player: Keylor Navas
• Rising star: Jewison Bennette
• Coach: Luis Fernando Suarez
• Sports Brief's predicted finish: Group Stage
• FIFA Ranking: 31

For a group that is widely believed to be Germany's and Spain's for the taking, watch out for Costa Rica.

The Central Americans shockingly got out of a group that had Italy, Uruguay and England in 2014, beating Greece in the round of 16 before their fairy-tale was ended in the quarter-finals by the Netherlands, via a post-match penalty shootout.

There's nothing much to indicate that they might repeat a similar trick this year, but they have built their game on suffering without the ball and maximising the one opportunity they get.

Top 5 players who were cut from Germany's 26-man World Cup Squad

Football

Against New Zealand in the final playoff match, Costa Rica scored after just three minutes and gladly sat back.

Keylor Navas is arguably the most successful Costa Rican and has always been integral with powerful reflexes. He is the leader of a backline that only conceded 8 goals in 14 games during qualification.

Bryan Ruiz has also been selected for Qatar and can offer his experience up top for a team that has struggled to create a lot of chances.

Jewison Bennette, who recently joined Sunderland, is part of the next generation of the country's footballers and has already proved useful with his direct style of play.

Possible XI: Navas, Calvo, Duarte, Ovideo, Martinez, Bennette, Tejeda, Torres, Campbell. Borges, Contreas

Japan

• Star player: Takumi Minamino
• Rising star: Kaoru Mitoma
• Coach: Hajime Moriyasu
• Sports Brief's predicted finish: Group Stage
• FIFA Ranking: 24

Japan's dramatic loss to Belgium in the round of 16 in 2018 still stings. The country was minutes away from a quarter-final berth until the Belgian Golden Generation took over.

Top 5 Barcelona players who will not feature at the World Cup

Football

This time around, they are back in an even more difficult group. The 2018 group had experienced players, but Moriyasu has decided to trust younger players in his squad.

Junya Ito has been Moriyasu's key man since his appointment, with the Reims man settling in well in the 4-2-3-1 formation as a number 10 or on the wings.

Japan has an abundance of attacking options, with former Liverpool man Takumi Minamino and former Real Madrid loanee Takefusa Kubo in the squad as well. There was also space for Kaoru Mitoma, who has really dazzled for Brighton.

They are a possession-based team, but given the strength of their group opponents, they will have to cope without the ball.

The backline has some Premier League experience, with former Southampton defender Maya Yoshida called up and expected to captain the side as well. Arsenal's Takehiro Tomiyasu will play beside him.

Possible XI: Schmidt, Tomiyasu, Yoshida, Nagatomo, Sakai, Endo, Morita, Ito, Kamada, Kubo, Maeda

You can also read here for the analysis of Group A, Group B, Group C. and Group D.