Germany are one of the most successful national teams to compete at the World Cup. They have been to 19 of the 21 tournaments and they have won it four times, finished runners-up four times and finished third four times.
Only Brazil (five) have won the tournament more often, but Die Mannschaft are currently ranked a lowly 11th in the world and need to improve on a shock group stage exit in Russia four years ago.
Here to take a look at if they can at the World Cup 2022, is Paddy Power football trader James Cumberton.
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Germany World Cup 2022 qualifying record
Germany made light work of their qualification campaign, winning nine games and losing once to North Macedonia. They scored 36 goals and conceded just four times in what was a very weak group also consisting of Armenia, Romania, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Iceland. Serge Gnabry, Ilkay Gundogan and Timo Werner were their top goal scorers on five each.
Who is the Germany manager?
Hansi Flick replaced Joachim Low after Euro 2020. He was previously assistant coach from 2006 to 2014, where he went out on a high after they won the World Cup in Brazil by beating Argentina in the final. Flick then became sporting director for Germany until 2017 and then took a brief period way from the game before returning to the dugout in 2019 to become assistant coach at Bayern Munich.
He stepped up to the big job later that year and was a huge hit, winning seven trophies including a treble in 2020 (DFB-Pokal, Bundesliga and Champions League) and lost just seven games. Flick held one of the highest win rates in football history, winning just above 82% of his games at Bayern. With his impressive CV, the Germans are hopeful he can guide them to conquer again in Qatar.
Germany World Cup squad
Flick is likely to play a 4-2-3-1 formation with Kai Havertz or Serge Gnabry being a false nine. Both can also play in wide positions and their attack is fluid with Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane and Thomas Muller the other attacking options of note. Their central midfield is strong with Joshua Kimmich, Ilkay Gundogan and Leon Goretzka competing for two spots.
Bayern’s Goretzka had knee surgery in the summer and is slowly getting his form back but there is not much between them all. The Germans have been a highly organised side down the years and are known to be efficient in everything they do. The main man in defence is Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger and he should be partnered by Niklas Sule from Borussia Dortmund. The captain Manuel Neuer is likely to start in goal.
- Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Kevin Trapp
- Defenders: Armel Bella-Kotchap, Matthias Ginter, Christian Gunter, Thilo Kehrer, Lukas Klostermann, David Raum, Antonio Rudiger, Nico Schlotterbeck, Niklas Sule
- Midfielders: Julian Brandt, Niclas Fullkrug, Leon Goretzka, Mario Gotze, Ilkay Gundogan, Jonas Hofmann, Joshua Kimmich
- Forwards: Karim Adeyemi, Serge Gnabry, Kai Havertz, Youssoufa Moukoko, Thomas Muller, Jamal Musiala, Leroy Sane
Germany Key Player
Serge Gnabry, the ex-Arsenal man, has gone from strength to strength at Bayern Munich. He has scored 47 times in 130 apperances for the club and he is likely to play as a false nine. He understands exactly what his manager wants having played under Flick at Bayern for two years.
He is tenacious, very quick and a good finisher and he has strong work ethic. He has played 36 times for Germany, scoring 20 goals. The 27-year-old is at his peak and hoping to perform in Qatar.
Germany One to Watch
Jamal Musiala is a Germany’s most exciting young talent. He has an interesting back story having played 21 games at youth level for England. He was born in Stuttgart and moved to England aged seven, spending most of his youth there. He earned an apprenticeship at the Chelsea academy but he then moved to back to Germany aged 16 and was recruited by Bayern.
The attacking midfielder was handed his professional debut by Flick in June 2020 and has scored 16 goals in 64 appearances for the Bundesliga champions. It appears he is competing against the experienced Muller for a starting spot just behind the striker, but he is versatile and can play as a winger on either side.
Germany World Cup Prospects
Germany have played eight games in 2022 and have only won two of them, drawing five and losing to Hungary. Basically, all way below their usual standards. They are in a tough group alongside Spain and Japan and are hoping to progress to the last 16 at a minimum.
On paper they should qualify but their form is a worry. The goal for Germany will be to win the World Cup, as it was four years ago when they got knocked out in the group stages in Russia. It’s hard to see them winning the tournament or going deep.
Germany World Cup betting tips
Germany will be looking to rack up the goals if the group is tight and even if it isn’t, they have a strong side. Costa Rica are a poor team and should already be a bruised up with them expected to lose to Spain and Japan too. Try a Bet Builder for Germany v Costa Rica: GERMANY TO WIN BOTH HALVES, GERMANY TO HAVE THE MOST CORNERS IN BOTH HALVES, GERMANY TO HAVE THE MOST SHOTS ON TARGET IN EACH HALF, SERGE GNABRY TO SCORE OR ASSIST, JAMAL MUSIALA TO SCORE OR ASSIST OR GERMANY TO SCORE 5+ GOALS v COSTA RICA.
Germany World Cup Winner Odds
Germany World Cup 2022 Fixtures
November 23, 1pm: Germany v Japan (ITV)
November 27, 7pm: Spain v Germany (BBC)
December 1, 7pm: Costa Rica v Germany (ITV)
CLICK BELOW FOR TEAM PREVIEWS ON GERMANY’S GROUP E RIVALS
- Spain World Cup squad analysed
- Japan World Cup squad analysed
- Costa Rica World Cup squad analysed
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change
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