Three days after the start of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, Germany begins their campaign against Japan on Wednesday at the Khalifa stadium in Doha. The German squad led by Manuel Neuer and coached by Hansi Flick is in pursuit of a record-equalling 5th World Cup title that could see them go at par with Brazil.

Strengths: With a squad consisting of veterans like skipper Neuer, Thomas Müller and Mario Gotze (Incidentally all three participated in the 2014 World Cup and a played an important role in Germany’s victory), while also having teen talents such as Jamal Musiala and Youssoufa Moukoko, the team has the perfect blend of youth and experience that could be crucial to the fortunes. Skipper Manuel Neuer, remains a formidable force despite this being his 4th and potentially last World Cup. Germany is by far the most successful International team in World Cups in the new millennium, winning Gold once (2014), silver once (2002) and Bronze twice (2006 and 2010) and hence their World Cup efficiency can hardly be ignored.

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Weaknesses: Germany will miss the services of several time-tested campaigners such as Lukas Podolski, Mesut Ozil, and Phillip Lahm. Defence, once a major strength of a well-oiled German machine, now looks grim after the retirement of Phillip Lahm and the absence of Mat Hummels from this World Cup. Recent performances in international tournaments too have been uninspiring, with the Germans crashing out of the group stage in 2018 World Cup and losing to England in the 2020 Euro championship (held in 2021) in the pre-quarter finals.

Opportunities: Germany is once again in the race for a record equalling 5th World Cup title, having won it previously in 1954 and 1974 as West Germany and twice more in 1990 and 2014 after the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany. For ace striker Thomas Müller who has 10 goals in World Cups, it is another chance to go past former team mate and all-time great Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals at the event.

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Threat: While Germany have regrouped after Hansi Flick took over as the coach, they do not have a core group that has been tested by fire in the climax of World Cups, a rare distinction that earlier German squads (3 players of the current squad too) could boast off. The loose-ends in defence and the unpredictability of their attack remain concerns.