G'day tribe. Yesterday we started off with Group E. Today we continue with Germany! 32 teams in 32 days! This is the Ultimate FIFA World Cup review guide. Check what we've done so far below.
Group A - Qatar | Ecuador | Senegal | Netherlands
Group B - United States | England | Iran | Wales
Group C - Mexico | Poland | Argentina | Saudi Arabia
Group D - Australia | Denmark | Tunisia | France
Group F - Canada | Croatia | Morocco | Belgium
Group E - Germany |
Group H - Ghana | Portugal | Uruguay | South Korea
Country: Germany
Nickname: Nationalmannschaft (The National Team), Die Mannschaft (The Team)
Last World Cup Appearance: 2018 (Group Stage)
Previous World Cup Appearances: 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018
World Rank: #11
Star Players: Joshua Kimmich, Kai Havertz, Leon Goretzka
Germany won the World Cup in 2014 and like I mentioned with Spain, there was an expectation that they would go on a run with dominance. We all know how they embarrassingly failed at the 2018 World Cup following a loss to South Korea.
In the four years since, Germany has rebuilt themselves under manager Hansi Flick In the June round of UEFA Nations League fixtures they were on track for an average month. One-all draws against Italy, England and Hungary were nothing to write home about. They however made a statement with a 5-2 smashing of Italy.
Entering September, Germany haven't lost in 13 games since a loss to England in June 2021. Following the disastrous last tournament, Flick has instilled a level of excitement in a squad that became stale and there's a sense that this German team could fly under the radar as many have France, Brazil and Spain as the favourites to win the tournament.
Flick is a solid professional who has high expectations and his a man manager who builds relationships with players and gets respect back in return. That's the sort of manager you want leading your country.
A win against Spain should see them top the group and put everybody on notice. You'd expect they'd dispatch of Costa Rica and Japan and cruise into the knockout rounds.
World Cup Group: Group E - Spain, Costa Rica, Japan, Germany
Prediction: On paper, Germany has one of the best teams and deepest squads. With the bad decisions of the past behind them, the biggest factor why I like Germany is because of Hansi Flick. He's the manager that recognized the potential of teaming up Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in central midfield which has turned out to be one of the best combos in football.
Manuel Neuer should play between the sticks and you've got to feel for Marc Andre Ter Stegen who would be an automatic starter for almost any other national team. Infront of Neuer will be Antonio Rudiger and Niklas Sule who are both absolute bests. Thilo Kherer and Lukas Klostermann will likely battle it out to play on the right flank and David Raum should wrap up the left back starting spot.
In midfield I think you've got to play Leon Goretzka with automatic starter Joshua Kimmich. You've also got City hero Ilkay Gundogan, Thomas Muller and the experience of Toni Kroos to choose from. Upfront there's also speedy options between Timo Werner, Kai Havertz, Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane.
Taking away the 2018 World Cup, Germany ALWAYS make the knockout rounds and they're known to be absolutely clinical when it comes to crunch time moments like a penalty shootout. I think the German football mentality might provide the edge to win the World Cup and when you had Hansi Flick to the equation, I think they'll be able to do it.
Winners!
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Wolfgang Sport started in 2017 as a way to connect my passion for American and British sports. Today it's evolved into a blockchain sports blog pushing the boundaries into the crypto world and embracing Web3 technologies.