Germany have been the gold standard of consistency in the big competitions, particularly the World Cup. The Germans have been champions four times, one behind record holders Brazil, and have reached the semi-finals 13 times, the most in history.
However, DFB-Team have been on the decline of late. They crashed out of the group stage in 2018 and fell in the round of 16 in Euro 2020.
With a squad composed mostly of a new generation of stars, Hansi Flick will have his work cut out for him in getting Germany back top the top in World Cup 2022.
Read on below as SBOTOP answers the three biggest questions surrounding Germany heading into Qatar.
What trick does Flick have up his sleeve?
This will be Hansi Flick’s first major competition in charge of DFB-Team. The 57-year-old has made a strong start as German coach, going unbeaten in his first 13 games at the helm before suffering a shock defeat to Hungary in the UEFA Nations League.
The squad Flick has picked for Qatar has few remnants of Germany’s glory days. Manuel Neuer, Thomas Muller, Matthias Ginter and Mario Gotze – who scored the winning goal in the final against Argentina – are the only surviving members of the side that won the World Cup in 2014.
A new generation of young German stars has emerged, led by the Bayern Munich contingent of Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and Leroy Sane. This Bayern core will lead a German side that is still good but is lacking the absolute superstar-level quality that other contenders in Qatar possess.
The defence in particular looks quite unremarkable, with Real Madrid’s Antonio Rudiger headlining a group of good but not great defenders.
It will be up to Flick to find a way to get the best out of this squad. He has shuffled between 3-4-3 and 4-2-3-1 formations during his first games in charge, and that versatility to change system will help the Germans match up better against a variety of opponents.
But Flick’s tricks can only get the Germans so far, and they will need a bit of individual quality to shine through in Qatar.
Who will score Germany’s goals?
Germany have needed a consistent goalscorer ever since the retirement of all-time leading scorer Miroslav Klose in 2014, and that lack of a top centre-forward will be a key concern once again in Qatar.
The absence of Timo Werner (24 goals in 55 caps) has further reduced Flick’s options up front. The Germans are so starved for strikers that they called up 17-year-old Youssofufa Moukoko and 29-year-old Niclas Fullkrug who have a combined 0 caps, and also brought BVB’s Karim Adeyemi, who has yet to score in 11 Bundesliga matches, amid teammate Marco Reus’ injury.
That leaves Kai Havertz and Thomas Muller as Flick’s main options to lead the line, with wingers Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane expected to provide World Cup 2022 highlights for an attack that – on paper – seems light on goals.
Flick will have to find the right combination from this group of forwards for the Germans to go far in Qatar.
Can Musiala emerge as the Mannschaft’s main man?
Germany’s two biggest concerns heading into World Cup 2022 are their lack of a true top-tier star and a reliable goalscorer. But the answer is potentially already in the squad, and his name is Jamal Musiala.
The 19-year-old Bayern Munich wunderkind has been more than one of the best youngsters in Europe this season; he’s also been the Bundesliga’s best player this season as he leads the league with nine goals and six assists. With his ability as both a scorer and a playmaker, he can be the game-changing force the team clearly needs.
German legend Lothar Matthaus has compared Musiala to Lionel Messi, which is high praise indeed, but it’s not completely outlandish given the young German’s great form.
Musiala did not have a great Euros and has yet to fully announce himself on the international stage (he has just one goal in his first 17 caps). But it’s possible World Cup 2022 could be his coming out party as a true superstar, and if it is, then Germany’s World Cup 2022 odds of winning the title will improve significantly.
●●●
CHECK OUT OUR BLOG FOR MORE FOOTBALL STORIES & ODDS
Stay updated with everything sports and betting.
Follow us on social Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
