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The World Cup is finally here. A few months later than normal but here nonetheless. And the team at RotoBaller has you covered for all your World Cup needs. We'll be bringing you DFS articles, game previews, and betting picks throughout the competition.
To get things going, we're previewing a different group every day until the big kick-off on Sunday, November 20. We'll be predicting how each group will pan out, what to expect from each nation, and offering our favorite picks for every country involved. We'll be using units for each betting pick to track them, with 10 units being the maximum play for any pick and a total of 25 units played for each group.
Costa Rica and Japan will be ruing the draw that sees them in Group E alongside 2010 World Cup winners Spain and four times winners Germany. Spain and Germany both had disappointing tournaments four years ago and will be keen to put that behind them with both having aspirations of lifting the trophy in Qatar. Can Japan or Costa Rica play spoiler to two of the World’s powerhouses?
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Costa Rica Preview, Odds, Best Bet, and Predictions
Preview
Costa Rica will be making their sixth appearance at a World Cup and their third consecutive tournament. They also boast a pretty solid record with five wins, five draws, and eight defeats in their 18 games. In 2014, they topped their group containing Italy, England and Uruguay then knocked out Greece and were only eliminated by the Netherlands on penalties in the quarter-finals. Four years ago was a much less successful tournament, with a group stage exit.
Qualification for this year was hard work, with Costa Rica coming fourth in the North American qualifying group and having to beat New Zealand in a playoff to reach Qatar. They managed to score just 13 goals in their 14 group games and they played out a goalless draw with Nigeria in a friendly game last week. A lack of goals is difficult to overcome at the best of times but when you’re in a group containing two of the favorites to lift the trophy, it’s likely an obstacle they can’t overcome.
Prediction
Even if they weren't drawn into a group with two soccer powerhouses, Costa Rica likely wouldn't make it through the group stage. They performed a miracle in 2014 so bet against them at your peril, but I don't see anything close to a repeat this year.
Favorite play: Total goals – Under 2.5 (-190) 8 units
There’s little value in Costa Rica’s plays unless you fancy them to upset the odds and somehow qualify from the group. I expect they will finish bottom of the group but with odds at best of -200 for that play, I’m going to hedge that they score less than three goals. That leaves some wiggle room if they do beat Japan for example but with goals hard to come by and two premium opponents, scoring more than two may prove difficult.
Today's World Cup Sportsbook Odds - Group E
- DraftKings Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on DraftKings!
- Spain to win the World Cup +850
- Germany to win Group E +115
- FanDuel Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on FanDuel!
- Spain to win Group E -105
- Japan to win Group E +1700
- Costa Rica to win Group E +5500
- BetMGM Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on BetMGM!
- Germany to win the World Cup +1000
- PointsBet Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on PointsBet!
- Japan to win the World Cup +25000
- Costa Rica to win the World Cup +100000
- Caesars Sportsbook World Cup Odds - Bet Now on Caesars
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Germany Preview, Odds, Best Bet, and Predictions
Preview
Only Brazil (five) has more World Cup successes than Germany’s four and the 2014 champions will want to put the last tournament behind them, when they suffered a first-round exit after finishing bottom of their group. I don’t expect a repeat, but I also don’t foresee them tying Brazil’s record. They cruised through qualification, winning nine of their ten games in what was a rather easy group to progress through.
Their UEFA Nations League campaign was poor as they finished third of four teams with just one win in their six games. They did draw four of those games but conceded nine goals and it was a similar story in the European Championship last year. Germany needed a late winner in their final group game to progress, only to lose 2-0 to England in the second round. In those four games, Germany won one and conceded a total of seven goals.
Prediction
Four years ago was the first time since 1998 that Germany failed to reach a World Cup semi-final and that will happen again this year. I fail to see how Germany is going to go far in the tournament and while they should get through the group stage, I'm struggling to have any confidence that they'll go any further than that.
Favorite play: To reach the quarter-finals – No (+110) 4 units
I expect Germany to get out of the group but if there is to be a big name fall at the first hurdle, Germany is also a strong candidate. If they do get through the group as expected, a second-round tie with Belgium or Croatia could await them. I’d fancy either of those two nations to beat Germany. While scoring goals isn’t an issue for Germany, keeping them out is and I suspect their defensive frailties will lead to their downfall.
Japan Preview, Odds, Best Bet, and Predictions
Preview
Like Costa Rica, Japan will be wondering how they have been drawn into a group containing Germany and Spain. They are World Cup regulars with this marking their seventh consecutive tournament and they’ve alternated a group stage exit with a second-round exit in the previous six. If you believe in following trends like that, Japan won’t be progressing out of the group stage in Qatar. And given their opponents, that’s a pretty safe bet too.
They comfortably qualified for the World Cup, winning 15 of their 18 total games in qualifying, and topped the Asian qualification with 58 goals. They’ve kept five consecutive clean sheets coming into the tournament and have notable wins against Paraguay, Ghana, and USA in 2022 so they will feel like they can cause an upset and certainly aren’t at Qatar just to make up the numbers.
Prediction
Japan almost always puts on a solid show at the World Cup but they've never reached the quarter-finals. That will remain true after this tournament with another group-stage exit on the horizon.
Favorite play: Total group points – Over 2.5 (-180) 8 units
Like Costa Rica, with the group the way it is, finding value in a pick involving Japan is difficult unless you back them to qualify for the second round. While I believe that’s going to be too big of a stretch, I fancy them to beat Costa Rica and they certainly have the capability to cause an upset against one of the big boys so I’ll take them to pick up at least three points in the group stage
Spain Preview, Odds, Best Bet, and Predictions
Preview
Spain is the slight favorite to win the group over Germany and their form suggests it’s warranted. They won their UEFA Nations League group and will play in the semi-finals next year. They reached the semi-finals of the European Championship last year, only losing to eventual winners Italy on penalties. They topped their World Cup qualification group, winning six of their eight matches, scoring 15 goals, and conceding five.
Four years ago, Spain was controversially knocked out by hosts Russia in the second round of the World Cup on penalties, exiting the tournament without losing a game. They have faced criticism in the past for their possession-based approach which can stymy some attacking flair but they are winning games and regularly go deep into tournaments.
Prediction
On their day, Spain can beat anyone. However, they always seem susceptible if 'Plan A' doesn't work. I don't think they'll suffer an early exit and fancy them to go far but they will just come up short against one of the South American favorites.
Favorite play: To reach the semi-finals (+190) 5 units.
I like Spain as the best chance of a European winner of the tournament and certainly believe a semi-final is in play. On paper, they have a potentially difficult route but they certainly have the talent and form to go the distance. They have a good balance of experience and youth in their squad with six players being under 22 years old and seven players in their 30s. Facing an opponent like Germany in the early stages could also help set them up for a deep run.
Good luck with those World Cup bets and remember to bet responsibly!
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