Team Germany at the 2022 World Cup: Nostalgia for the German machine

An overview of Group "E" at the World Cup in Qatar will begin with Germany, which has always been considered one of the favorites in any tournament in which it participates.

Germany

Ancient Germanic historians wrote about ancient Germans, but they created their first state later than their neighboring Slavs - in 962. Since then, Germany, whether it is united or fragmented into several parts, has always played an important role in the life of Europe.

Germans have left an important mark on world culture: German order and German cuisine with plenty of fried meat, German cars from Mercedes to John Deere tractor, German music from Bach to Ramstein and, of course, German soccer. Recently the Bundesliga has been slightly in the shadow of Europe's leading championships, but in vain.

The German national soccer team

In 1908 in Basel it played its first match against Switzerland (3:5), and four years later scored the biggest victory in history: the players of the Russian Empire got under hot feet at the Olympics in Stockholm, 16-0.

The first success in the international arena, however, had to wait until 1934, when the Germans were bronze medalists at the World Cup in Italy. And the gold came twenty years later: in the World Cup in Switzerland, West Germany twice won the group stage against Turkey - 4:1, 7:2 and was destroyed by Hungary - 3:8. In the quarterfinals, the West Germans will beat the Yugoslavians - 2:0, in the semifinals defeated Austria - 6:1, and in the final, losing 0:2 already on the eighth minute, will take revenge on the Hungarians - 3:2. There is evidence that the Germans took doping before the decisive game, but a thief is not caught.

The Germans won their second gold in 1974 in front of their spectators: in the group the German national team lost to their sworn compatriots from the GDR - 0-1, they beat Chile - 1-0 and Australia - 3-0, in the semi-final game they overcame Yugoslavia - 2-0, Sweden - 4-2 and Poland - 1-0. The decisive match was a showdown between two great teams: the Netherlands, with its agile total soccer, and the relentless machine from Germany. Johan Neskens converted a penalty in the 2nd minute, but the Germans answered with goals of the main stars of this great generation - Paul Breitner and Gerd Muller and won the gold.

The third top award went to West Germany in 1990 in Italy. In the final the Germans took revenge in the Argentina national team for defeat four years earlier - 1:0.

The fourth success of the German national team celebrated in 2014 in Brazil, defeating all major rivals in the playoffs, including the humiliation of the tournament hosts - 7:1, and in the final the same Argentina in extra time - 1:0. True, this time not with Maradona, but with Messi.

And the Germans have four silver and bronze medals at the World Championships. Will they add to the collection in Qatar?

German national team stars

The case when you have to choose the brightest stars. Of course, they are goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, defenders Antonio Rüdiger and Niklas Süle, midfielders Marko Reus, Ilkay Gundogan, Leon Goretzka, Kaj Haverc, forwards Thomas Müller, Leroy Sane, Serge Gnabry. Alas, the Germans' offense will not feature the injured Timo Werner.

Group E opponents

Spain, Japan, Costa Rica.

Germany's national team performance forecast

The merits of the past create a golden halo, but the Germans will not see gold in Qatar. At the 2018 World Cup in Russia they did not make it out of the group, at the European Championship they dropped out in the 1/8 finals. There are at least five teams that are now stronger than the Germans - getting to the semifinals would be a huge success for Hans-Dieter Flick's wards.