World Cup 2018 Preview - Germany

Team: Germany 

Manager: Joachim Löw

Group: F

Other teams in group: Mexico, Sweden, Korea Republic

 

THE SQUAD

Germany may have one of the scariest depth of squad’s we may have ever seen in a World Cup tournament. Manager Joachim Löw will have a squad that can cater for any injuries in this summer’s tournament that is likely to crop up with the goalkeeper position and defence well represented with big names in the squad. 

The Bundesliga is the most well represented league in the squad with 15 of the 23 players playing their football in Germany. The biggest shock from the squad announcement is that Leroy Sané has been omitted from the squad. Marco Reus and Julian Brandt will head to Russia instead of the Manchester City winger. Germany have only chosen the best when it comes to their squad with five of Europe’s best leagues represented in the squad.

The squad in full:

Goalkeepers:Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Marc-Andre ter Stegen (Barcelona), Kevin Trapp (Paris Saint-Germain



Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Matthias Ginter (Borussia Monchengladbach), Jonas Hector (FC Cologne), Mats Hummels (Bayern Munich), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Marvin Plattenhardt (Hertha Berlin), Antonio Rudiger (Chelsea), Niklas Sule (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders:Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (Paris Saint-Germain), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Ilkay Gundogan (Manchester City), Sami Khedira (Juventus), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sebastian Rudy (Bayern Munich)

Forwards:Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)

 

HOW THEY GOT HERE

Germany rain riot in their group to qualify for this year’s World Cup from top spot in the group with a perfect record of ten wins in ten games during the campaign and managing to secure top spot with a comfortable 11 point margin. The German attackers were in great form during qualification netting 43 goals in ten games and only conceding four goals along the way finishing with a plus 39 goal difference. That broke a European record previously set by Romania’s 33 goal difference in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup. 



Speaking after his sides final group win over Azerbaijan, Low wasn’t getting ahead of himself “Qualification is one thing but it’s only preparation for the World Cup, in the last few days I spoke with the team about their expectations and every player has the chance to prepare themselves for the tournament. It is important for every player to be in good shape and to be ready because this is necessary for us, every player has been prepared mentally at an early stage and everybody knows that at a World Cup you have to face different opponents than you meet during qualification”.

 

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR

Manuel Neuer

The 32-year-old German captain is poised to make his third world cup appearance between the sticks for Die Mannschaft in this World Cup. Neuer has been plagued with injury problems recently however, he only played three games during qualification managing to keep a 100% record for clean sheets but has only featured once since suffering his second metatarsal break in six months during a 4-0 win over Mainz in the Bundesliga back in September 2017. He missed over 12 months of football with both injuries, and speculation is he may not deserve to be number one having been out of action for that long. Capped 74 times for his nation, Neuer despite injury problems, remains one of the worlds best number 1’s and should he have a clean bit of health for the World Cup could be crucial for back-to-back success.

Marco Reus

The 29-year-old Borussia Dortmund forward is set to appear in only his first World Cup for his nation this year in Russia. Reus has struggled with injuries in recent years and was forced to withdraw from the senior squad before the World Cup in South Africa. He became a regular starter during the 2014 World Cup qualification campaign scoring five goals and managing three assists before he was ruled out with injury during a warm up game shortly before the 2014 World Cup. Another injury ruled him out of Euro 2016 and he has only returned after two years to the German team in a recent friendly loss to Austria. Despite his injury history, Reus is still capable of being a big name player when called upon and will be sure to make his first World Cup one to savour  

Timo Werner

If you are unfamiliar with this man’s name, Timo Werner is one of Germany’s most exciting and prolific young strikers and has even been compared to legendary German striker Gerd Muller. At just 22 years of age Werner has scored 47 goals in the Bundesliga and now holds the record of being the youngest player to reach 150 Bundesliga appearances. Werner currently plays for RasenBallsport Leipzig and is no slouch in front of goal scoring 21 goals last season and 13 this season for his side attracting some of Europe’s top teams. Golden Boot winner at the 2017 Confederations Cup and netting three goals during qualification, Werner had a very impressive return for Die Mannschaft with seven goals in 12 games.

 

WHERE THEY ARE PLAYING AND STAYING

17/06: Germany V Mexico, Luzhniki Stadium Moscow

23/06: Germany v Sweden, Fisht Stadium Sochi

27/06: Korea Republic v Germany, Kazan Arena Kazan

After the draw Joachim Low said that his players must not underestimate their World Cup opponents to avoid being their own biggest enemy at the World Cup.Low also spoke highly of their group opponents sayimg "Mexico play at an incredibly high level, we know them from the Confederations Cup where we beat them. Technically and tactically, they are a very good team, a tough opponent to open against. We definitely won't be taking things lightly against them. They have always done very well in recent years.

"Sweden knocked Italy out in the play-offs so we absolutely cannot underestimate them. They're a tough team, they have very good team spirit, lots of confidence and they defend well. I remember we drew 4-4 against them in the qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup, having led 4-0. This game showed me that you can never give up. This time we want to lead 5-0 to be sure!"

 "Our biggest enemy will be if we go into the games against Sweden or South Korea thinking we only need to put in 80 or 90 per cent," said Low. "These teams will fight with all they have to reach the last 16. I know lots of Korean players, Heung-Min Son from Tottenham Hotspur of course, there are also lots in the Bundesliga. "They have a great mentality and are very quick. They are getting better and better."

Germany will be staying at the Vatutinki Health Complex, New Moscow located on the bank of the Desna River 16 km southwest of Moscow. The hotel will keep the German players entertained during their visit with activities such as an indoor pool, billiards, darts, tennis, paintball, Finnish sauna and Roman thermae all located in the grounds. The team HQ is located an hour from Moscow but while this sounds idealic for their opener against Mexico at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, they will need to hop on a plane to reach their next venues as the Fisht Stadium in Sochi is 21 hours away while the Kazan Arena in Kazan is a much shorter 13 hours away. They will train at the CSKA Moscow Base.

 

 THREE INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT THE TEAM

Germany are the current World Cup Champions and are ranked number 1 in the FIFA rankings. The last side to ever do back-to-back World Cup wins was Brazil back in 1958 and 1962 where they featured a young player by the name of Pele.

Nobody has appeared in more finals at the World Cup than Germany. The Germans have appeared in eight finals winning four. Only Brazil with their five wins at the competition are more succesful in World Cup history.

Germany have the most top goal scorers in World Cup history. In total 14 of the top 90 goal scorers have represented Die Mannschaft. They are Miroslav Klose, Gerd Muller, Jurgen Klinsmann, Helmut Rahn, Thomas Muller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uwe Seeler, Rudi Völler, Hans Schäfer, Max Morlock, Helmut Haller, Lothar Matthäus, Lukas Podolski and Franz Beckenbauer.

 

THEIR RECENT FORM

Germany are unbeaten in their last ten competitive games. Since qualification ended for the World Cup, their record in friendlies however has been mixed, drawing three of their last five games to England (0-0), France (2-2) and Spain (1-1) and suffering defeat to Brazil (1-0) and Austria (2-1) in recent friendlies. 

 

First game:The Germans will play Mexico in their opening Group F fixture on June 17th in Moscow.

    About Diarmuid Kearney

    View Full Profile