Posted at 12:23 23 Nov 202212:23 23 Nov 2022Post updateGermany v Japan (13:00 GMT)Chris SuttonFormer England striker on BBC Radio 5 LiveGermany's front five will be like a revolving door, a lot of rotation.
Posted at 12:22 23 Nov 202212:22 23 Nov 2022Team news - Havertz and Musiala startGermany v Japan (13:00 GMT)Emma SandersBBC Sport at Khalifa International StadiumThe Germany team is full of superstars. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer captains the team in their World Cup opener, while Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger lines up at centre-back.Chelsea's Kai Havertz and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan also start, alongside exciting Bayern Munich teenager Jamal Musiala.The likes of Julian Brandt, Mario Gotze and Leroy Sane are on the bench.Germany XI: Neuer, Rudiger, Raum, Kimmich, Havertz, Gnabry, Muller, Musiala, Suele, Gundogan, Schlotterbeck.Japan have got some talented players too. Schalke centre-back Maya Yoshida captains the side against familiar German opposition. He is one of five players in the Japan starting XI who are currently playing their football in the German Bundesliga.Celtic forward Daizen Maeda starts but Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma and former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino are on the bench.Japan XI: Gonda, Itakura, Nagatomo, Endo, Kubo, Ito, Kamada, Tanaka, Sakai, Yoshia, Maeda.
Posted at 12:19 23 Nov 202212:19 23 Nov 2022'Never underestimate your opponent'Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)Germany are ranked 11th in the world, 13 places above Japan, so go into this game as favourites.But boss Hansi Flick, who succeeded Joachim Low last year, is wary of a shock defeat after Saudi Arabia's win over Argentina on Monday."We saw that everything is possible, but that makes it so beautiful and interesting - never underestimate your opponent," he said.Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Posted at 12:17 23 Nov 202212:17 23 Nov 2022'Time for togetherness'Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)Emma SandersBBC Sport at Khalifa International StadiumBBC SportCopyright: BBC SportWe've just arrived at the Khalifa International Stadium ahead of Germany v Japan.It was an enjoyable journey across on the metro with fans from both countries providing plenty of entertainment.When we arrived a group of Germany fans, who had attended games when their country hosted the tournament in 2006, laid this rug on the grass.It reads "Time for Togetherness" at the top.
Posted at 12:13 23 Nov 202212:13 23 Nov 2022Good afternoonGermany v Japan (13:00 GMT)I could get used to this four games per day lark.It is time for another of the World Cup heavyweights to enter the fray, as four-time winners Germany take on 2002 co-hosts Japan.As you can see, the atmosphere is already building at the Khalifa International Stadium.Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty ImagesGetty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images
Live Reporting
Tom Mallows
All times stated are UK
Post update
Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)
Chris Sutton
Former England striker on BBC Radio 5 Live
Germany's front five will be like a revolving door, a lot of rotation.
Team news - Havertz and Musiala start
Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Khalifa International Stadium
The Germany team is full of superstars.
Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer captains the team in their World Cup opener, while Real Madrid's Antonio Rudiger lines up at centre-back.
Chelsea's Kai Havertz and Manchester City's Ilkay Gundogan also start, alongside exciting Bayern Munich teenager Jamal Musiala.
The likes of Julian Brandt, Mario Gotze and Leroy Sane are on the bench.
Germany XI: Neuer, Rudiger, Raum, Kimmich, Havertz, Gnabry, Muller, Musiala, Suele, Gundogan, Schlotterbeck.
Japan have got some talented players too.
Schalke centre-back Maya Yoshida captains the side against familiar German opposition.
He is one of five players in the Japan starting XI who are currently playing their football in the German Bundesliga.
Celtic forward Daizen Maeda starts but Brighton's Kaoru Mitoma and former Liverpool midfielder Takumi Minamino are on the bench.
Japan XI: Gonda, Itakura, Nagatomo, Endo, Kubo, Ito, Kamada, Tanaka, Sakai, Yoshia, Maeda.
'Never underestimate your opponent'
Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)
Germany are ranked 11th in the world, 13 places above Japan, so go into this game as favourites.
But boss Hansi Flick, who succeeded Joachim Low last year, is wary of a shock defeat after Saudi Arabia's win over Argentina on Monday.
"We saw that everything is possible, but that makes it so beautiful and interesting - never underestimate your opponent," he said.
'Time for togetherness'
Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)
Emma Sanders
BBC Sport at Khalifa International Stadium
We've just arrived at the Khalifa International Stadium ahead of Germany v Japan.
It was an enjoyable journey across on the metro with fans from both countries providing plenty of entertainment.
When we arrived a group of Germany fans, who had attended games when their country hosted the tournament in 2006, laid this rug on the grass.
It reads "Time for Togetherness" at the top.
Good afternoon
Germany v Japan (13:00 GMT)
I could get used to this four games per day lark.
It is time for another of the World Cup heavyweights to enter the fray, as four-time winners Germany take on 2002 co-hosts Japan.
As you can see, the atmosphere is already building at the Khalifa International Stadium.