World Cup 2022

Germany are not the force they once were but they will arrive in Qatar with a drive to show they are ready to be taken seriously.

This is an important time for the national team, who host the European Championship in 2024, and they have been steadily improving under manager Hansi Flick.

They are 4 times world champions and even though we remember 2018 as a big disappointment - when they failed to make it out of the group stage - the Jogi Low era has been put behind them and an exciting future awaits.

Who is the Germany manager?

Flick knows the core of this team from his spell as Bayern Munich boss and feels like the perfect candidate to restore pride to the nation.

This is not a coach who is going to take tactical risks but he is a man who will put total belief in his players to carry out the plan he believes can carry them to the latter stages of this World Cup. 

Flick spent years as a backroom figure with Germany and was involved when they won the tournament in 2014 so he knows what it takes to create a good dressing room at this level.

What tactics can we expect from them at the World Cup?

Germany will play with a possession based technical control of the game and set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. This is not a team that will keep the ball for the sake of keeping the ball but to progress quickly with an aim to get forward in numbers. You can expect some pressing tactics from them too.

Hansi Flick has moved away from a three-man defence in favour of a back four but that does not stop them from using the full-backs to great effect. David Raum in particular will be used as an attacking outlet in this team.

The lack of a No9 will be noticeable. There is no obvious goal threat. Instead the forward players are fluid and share responsibility for goals.

 

Who are the players to watch for Germany?

Joshua Kimmich is one of the best ball technicians in the game and his role in this team is largely part of a two man defensive midfield pivot with Ilkay Gundogan.

There is a belief in some quarters that he may not have the defensive instincts in that position to protect the back line but what he does have is an unbelievable ability to link up play, pick out passes, and lead the rest of the side from the centre of the park.

He is a brilliant footballer who will set the tempo for Germany and drive forwards whenever he can. 

Who is favourite to be top scorer for Germany?

Timo Werner would have led the line for Germany until he picked up an injury so now more pressure will fall onto the shoulders of Thomas Muller. 

He is closing in on the country’s all-time goalscoring record and even though he has had injury problems himself, there is hope he steps forward.

We have seen with Bayern Munich he can still be reliable and he will also rotate positions at times with the likes of Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala. 

How did Germany qualify for the World Cup?

Germany qualified at the top of European Group J, nine points ahead of North Macedonia. There was a 2-1 home defeat to North Macedonia that was a terrible moment for German football but they changed managers and never looked back.

They were actually one of the very first teams to qualify for this World Cup, thanks to a revenge 4-0 win over North Macedonia, and the change in mentality has been noticeable.

Germany always expect big things. Disappointing tournaments since 2018 have led to an in-depth look at how they bounce back to become a force in the game and it feels like this might be the first step towards that.

What are the ambitions for this Germany team?

This team want to make the quarter-finals first and foremost but ultimately the goal is to compete to win the tournament. 

It is probably too soon to realistically do that but with an improved spirit, a group of experienced players, and a great coach, we definitely have to take them seriously. 

Germany World Cup Odds

You can get Germany at a best price of 12/1 to lift the World Cup in December.

The lack of a natural goalscorer does feel like it might be a problem for them but all the other ingredients are in place for a good tournament here.

Some global stars, some emerging talent, and an appetite for glory. Germany are ready to make a comeback.

Germany World Cup prediction from oddschecker

Germany will want to make amends for their previous World Cup campaign, where they finished bottom of their group in Russia 2018. Hansi Flick has installed a winning mentality which will serve them well.

The former Bayern Munich manager has a 60% win rate in his first 15 games in charge of the national team. Prior to 2018, Germany had reached the semi finals in their last four World Cup campaigns, dating from 2002 to 2014, where they lifted the trophy.

We think this run will continue, and a run through to the semi finals may be on the cards for the Germans.