Football: World Cup Group E preview -- Japan, Germany, Spain, Costa Rica

Japan's group at the upcoming soccer World Cup is shaping up to be among the tournament's most exciting first-stage contests, with two heavyweights of the sport in Germany and Spain under pressure to advance.Costa Rica and the Samurai Blue are both heavy underdogs to emerge from the quartet and will create a shockwave across the tournament should either succeed.Below is a primer on each team in the group ahead of the first match between Japan and Germany, which will be played in Qatar on Nov. 23.----------Japan World Cup appearance -- 7thBest finish -- Round of 16 three times: 2002, 2010, 2…READ FULL ARTICLE