2022 World Cup Team Previews: Germany

The Mannschaft are back and gunning for massive success in the 2022 World Cup after shocking group stage exit in Russia in 2018.

Quick Facts:

World Cup appearances: 20th

Best Finish: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)  

How They Got Here: Despite a little stumble against North Macedonia, Germany cruised on their road to Qatar, winning Group J of the UEFA qualifiers with 27 of the 30 points available. They also scored 36 goals, the second most prolific attack in Europe, just behind England with 39.

Coach: Hansi Flick (German)

Strongest XI: (4-2-3-1) Manuel Neuer; Thilo Kehler, Antonio Rüdiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, David Raum; Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gündogan; Serge Gnabry, Thomas Müller, Leroy Sané; Kai Havertz

Injuries: Timo Werner (out), Manuel Neuer (shoulder, questionable)

Positive:

What's To Like: We're not going to see Joachim Löw picking his nose, eating his boogers or smelling his fingers after scratching his crotch! After 15 years at the helm and delivering the 2014 World Cup title, Löw was axed due to Germany's early exits in Russia 2018 and the 2020 Euros. 

Hansi Flick, who used to be his assistant, is the new manager and has been slowly gluing this squad back together. 

There's experience in the names of Neuer, Kimmich, Gündogan and Müller. Leroy Sané wants to show why it was a mistake leaving him out in Russia 2018, while Nico Chlotterbeck and Jamal Musiala bring youth and irreverence. 

Negative:

They just lost their main striker. Timo Werner suffered an injury that will make him miss the tournament and leaves Flick with a big issue to solve: who is going to replace him? Havertz, Gnabry or Müller, maybe?

The team is still a little volatile. Yes, they had a roaring 5-2 victory over Italy recently, but at the same time, they were unable to deal with Hungary the two times they saw each other (one draw, one loss). 

In 2022, Germany have played eight games and the record is not precisely inspiring: two wins, five draws and one loss.

What Germany will we see at the World Cup? To be determined.

Key Player:

Joshua Kimmich: The midfielder always makes you think he's a supporting actor in this German squad, but he's the master puppeteer. 

He doesn't score or assist a lot, but when you see the attacking plays of this team, one step behind, Kimmich is always involved, creating space or stinging with a breakthrough pass. 

2022 World Cup Tournament Prediction:

Most Likely To Mess It All Up: Neuer being on his sweeper-keeper duties outside of the box or Havertz missing a sitter. 

What Will Make This A Good World Cup: Semifinal

Bonus Prediction: A pundit will say the famous Gary Lineker quote, "Football is a simple game. Twenty-two men chase a ball for 90 minutes and at the end, the Germans always win," as if nobody has ever heard it before. 

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