4-time World Cup winners failed to achieve the knockout rounds at Russia 2018 regardless of being defending champions.
Earlier World Cup appearances: 19
Titles: 4
Greatest end: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
World Cup report: W67 D22 L20
Objectives: 226
Largest win: 8-0 vs Saudi Arabia (2002)
Participant to look at: Thomas Muller
Rating: 11
Fixtures: Japan (November 23), Spain (November 27), Costa Rica (December 1)
The German soccer group has a wealthy historical past on the World Cup, starting from the time when it performed as two separate groups (East and West) up till the 2014 version the place it was topped champion for the fourth time.
The Russia 2018 World Cup noticed Die Mannschaft lastly face the ignominy it had averted on three earlier events: a first-round exit as defending champions.
Germany has been amongst a handful of groups to take part within the match on a constant foundation. In reality, ever for the reason that qualification course of was launched forward of the 1934 World Cup, Germany has certified for all tournaments. The primary World Cup (1930) was by invitation solely and West Germany, together with a number of different European groups, turned down the provide for a number of causes.
The opposite one it missed was in 1950, when it was banned within the aftermath of World Struggle II.
West Germany entered the 1954 World Cup as an unseeded aspect making its comeback within the match, and left as champion after defeating the best Hungarian aspect ever in “The Miracle of Bern” remaining.
The seeds of greatness had been sown, and the so-called German resilience got here to the fore for the primary time.
Germany’s different three title wins got here in much less stunning circumstances in 1974 as hosts, in 1990 in a uninteresting 1-0 win over Argentina, and in 2014 in opposition to the identical foes.
Following a disastrous run on the 2018 World Cup, the German aspect continued to wrestle and was set to drop out of the UEFA Nations League till the variety of groups was elevated by UEFA.
Regardless of the losses, its World Cup-winning coach Joachim Low continued on the helm. Germany’s poor efficiency and spherical of 16 exit on the Euro 2020 ended Low’s reign. His assistant, Hansi Flick, then took over.
Flick’s reign introduced a fast and hassle-free qualification for the World Cup with seven wins out of seven. Whereas Germany’s ends in the Nations League matches haven’t been the identical, the World Cup squad is filled with high quality and has a steadiness of youth and expertise.
It’s actually the final World Cup for the likes of captain and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer and ahead Thomas Muller. Each have had stellar World Cup runs. Muller, particularly, was a star for his aspect throughout the 2010 and 2014 tournaments. He has 10 World Cup objectives, one Greatest Younger Participant award, one Golden Boot award, one Silver Boot award and was a part of the World Cup All-Star XI in 2014.
He didn’t do a lot throughout his aspect’s horrible exhibiting in 2018, and can be trying to make up for it in his fourth and presumably remaining World Cup.
However Flick’s aspect is just not depending on Muller’s kind. The likes of Ilkay Gundogan, Joshua Kimmich and Jamal Musiala are well-equipped to run the present from the midfield. The entrance line consists of 2014 remaining hero Mario Gotze, reliable ahead Kai Havertz and Serge Gnabry – all of whom are able to scoring objectives.
Whereas Germany may not be among the many outright favourites this time round, followers of the Die Mannschaft will accept nothing lower than a record-equalling fifth title.
Regardless of being in a difficult group that features Costa Rica, Japan and Spain, Germany ought to progress to the spherical of 16 and presumably attain the semi-finals. Because the saying goes, by no means rely out the Germans.
