The "Group of Death" at this year's World Cup gets underway as Germany face their first big test in Japan.With Spain and Costa Rica also looming in the other half of Group E, these two teams know that results in every single match will be absolutely critical towards advancing to the knockout round.Germany are touted as title contenders, but Japan will hope to play spoiler and knock one of the group's two European giants out early. Germany were eliminated from the 2018 World Cup in the group stage, ending a four-tournament stretch where they reached at least the semifinals.With so much on the line, here's a closer look Eric Murray Jersey at predictions and picks for how this promising match could play out.MORE: Germany are heavy favorites, but in a tournament with juiced unders, the bookmakers expect goals from this match.The over is a heavy favorite, while the two choices in both teams to score are both nearly dead even. Additionally, Japan are expected to keep it close, with the even-money spread seeing Germany as handicap favorites at only about 1.0 goals.SkyBetLadBrokesGermany win-2101.364/94/9Draw+3504.9318/510/3Japan win+5507.016/111/2Both teamsto score Y / N-120 / -1151.77 / 1.834/5, 10/113/4, 1/1Over / Under2.5 goals-160 / +1101.66 / 2.148/13, 6/58/3, 6/5Germany -1.5+1202.24Japan+1.5-1751.63MORE: Germany vs. Japan team newsGermany have a few i sues in the attacking third. They lostTimo WernerandMarco Reusto injuries in the run-up to the World Cup, and both will mi s the tournament. So too will electric young attackerFlorian Wirtzwho tore his ACL in March and just wasn't able to make it back in time.Leroy Sanewill be fit despite a hamstring injury in mid-October, and so too willThomas Mullerwho mi sed some recent time with Bayern with a hip injury.Japan had a number of questions around their initial roster, with a few players injured but brought to the World Cup. It would appear all those players are on track to play, includingTakefusa Kubo,Takuma Asano,Ko Itakura, andAo Tanaka. One player who did require a replacement wasYuta Nakayamawho was named to the initial roster despite an Achilles tear but was unable to recover in time, replaced byShuto Machino.MORE: Germany vs. Japan key statsJapan and Germany have played each other twice, both friendlies, with Germany Trevon Coley Jersey winning one and the other finishing level.Eight players in the Japansquad play their club football in the Bundesliga.With an average age of 26.7, Germany have the 12th-youngest squad at the World Cup. Japan, at 27.8, have the ninth-oldest.Germany vs. Japan match factsDate:Tuesday, November 22Kickoff Time:8:00 a.m.ET / 1:00 p.m.GMT / 12:00 a.m.AEDT (Wed, Nov. 23)Location:Khalifa International StadiumOfficial:Ivan Barton (El Salvador) Moneyline lean:Germany (-210)Against the spread lean:Japan +1.5 (-175)Score prediction:Germany 2-1 JapanI have selected Japan to make it out of this brutal group in an upset, but it won't be easy with Germany up first. I like Japan, a very talented and organized team, to produce a result in the final two matches, especially against Spain, but they will struggle Ricardo Louis Jersey against an electric and excitable Germany squad.The attacking injuries for Germany have hurt, and they won't be able to run up the score in this game, which is why I like Japan to keep it close, but ultimately, it will be tough to pick up points in this first match. It will be up to Japan to secure results in the final two games if they want to reach the knockout round.MORE: A match between two good attacking sides should produce an entertaining 90 minutes. While I don't quite trust Japan to find Greg Joseph Jersey the back of the net enough to give both teams to score a look, I do think there are goals in this game.Germany vs. Japan best betPick:Jamal Musiala to score or a sist a goalOdds:+115 (FanDuel)The young Bayern Munich star is a popular pick for Best Young Player at the World Cup, and it should start early on. Still just 19 years old, Musiala has 12 goals and 10 a sists for Bayern this season acro s all competitions, and with the attacking injuries to Germany, there's no reason he won't be in the lineup.Musiala's 9.77 xG+xA in Bundesliga play ranks him second amongst all German top-flight players with at least 3.0 in both categories, behind only Vincenzo Grifo of Freiburg. Germany legend Lothar Matthaus called Musiala "Me si-like", whileOwen Hargreaves said that Musiala reminds him of Kaka. Feed me Musiala goal contributions.Germany vs. Japan prop betPick:Over 9.5cornersOdds:+105( )While it might be a little hard to trust the over in this match, as goal scoring chances could be kept somewhat under wraps, the end-to-end action will still be there.These are two teams that love to go forward with speed, Damarious Randall Jersey and that should result in a positive and exciting game flow. Even while getting beaten, Japan still manage to secure set-pieces, as they did in a 1-0 friendly lo s to Brazil back in June. In that game, the Samurai Blue were out-shot 21-7, as they are likely to be against Germany, but still held 48 percent po se sion and secured seven corners.Germany, for their part, can almost hit the total themselves. They put up nine corners in a pre-World Cup friendly against Oman, plus six in a 1-1 Nations League draw with Hungary in June. This game will be a fun one to watch, and action should result in corners, even if 9.5 is a very high bar to clear.Germany vs. Japan flier betPick:Germany to come from behind and winOdds:+575( )Germany have made a habit of getting into some trouble in their recent results. Die Mannschaft coughed up the first goal to Italy and Hungary in recent Nations League matches, before coming back to draw both. While Germany should win this match, it might have to come via the comeback if Japan can punch them in the mouth early.