Number of past World Cup appearances: 20
Best Performance: Winner (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)
First appearance: 1934 (Italy)
Top scorer: Miroslav Klose (16)
Most games played: Lothar Matthaus (25)
Player to watch: Florian Wirtz
FIFA World Ranking: 8th place
Germany are desperate for World Cup success after two dramatic failures in 2018 and 2022, when they were eliminated in the group stage.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
They certainly seem to be improving under coach Julian Nagelsmann. Germany advanced through the World Cup qualifying group with five wins from six games.
The team combines the youthful talent of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz with the experience of Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who surprised many by coming out of international retirement for this tournament.
But it remains to be seen whether the team as a whole has enough talent to be a serious threat to the championship contenders, and whether all the pieces will truly come together under the pressure of the tournament.
group stage hoodoo
Gary Lineker famously said: “Soccer is a simple game. 22 men chase the ball for 90 minutes, and in the end the German always wins.”
Failure in the last two tournaments was therefore almost unthinkable for the four-time champion.
In 2018, they lost to South Korea and were eliminated. In 2022, they lost to Japan on the way to elimination due to goal difference.
Nagelsmann took office in September 2023 and has restored some national pride.
Germany had a decent performance as the host country for Euro 2024, but perhaps they were unlucky to lose to Spain in the quarter-finals. The team seems to be feeling optimistic and will be expected to advance to the top of the tournament.
Talented young attackers
At the heart of Germany’s ambitions are talented young attackers such as Musiala, Wirtz and Lennart Karl.
Musiala, 23, has been outstanding at Euro 2024, adding individual genius to the team.
However, in July, when Bayern Munich lost to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the quarterfinals of the FIFA Club World Cup, he suffered serious injuries, breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle in a collision with PSG’s goalkeeper at the time, Gianluigi Donnarumma.
He suffered an injury while recovering and hasn’t played as well as expected in recent weeks, mostly coming off the bench. The German squad will hope he is back to full fitness and form in time for the month-long tournament, which begins on June 11.
Meanwhile, Wirtz has endured a tough season following his big-money move to Liverpool. After failing to register either a goal or an assist in the first few months of the season, he seems to be finding his feet in the rough waters of the Premier League and looking more and more like his old self.
He provides Germany with versatility across the front, and wherever he plays, Wirths is able to opt out of any defence.
Carl is another exciting prospect. The 18-year-old Bayern attacker, who can play on the wings or in the middle, burst onto the scene this year.
With goals against Club Brugge and Borussia Mönchengladbach, he became Bayern’s youngest scorer in the UEFA Champions League and the third-youngest player in the Bundesliga. He has even been compared to Lionel Messi for his dribbling and low center of gravity.
Neuer’s shocking comeback
The 40-year-old goalkeeper was a surprise addition to Nagelsmann’s 26-man World Cup squad.
Although Neuer retired from international football after Euro 2024, the Bayern keeper is aiming for a fifth World Cup appearance and Nagelsmann said he was his first choice over Oliver Baumann and Alexander Noubel.
“Everyone knows Manu’s aura and qualities and what he brings to the team,” Nagelsmann said when announcing the squad.
“He can influence his team and his opponents and create special moments.”
Despite the return of long-time Germany captain Neuer, Kimmich will continue to be the captain.
Nagging questions for Mr. Nagelsmann
Several players appear to be locked in as starters – think Leon Goretzka as a double pivot in midfield alongside Aleksandar Pavlovic, with Kimmich at right-back.
However, other positions are less established as Germany lacks a world-class out-and-out striker. This is especially true on the front lines.
Niklas Hulkruk is a traditional number nine, but he was sidelined after a dismal season in which he scored just once in Serie A in front of AC Milan’s goal. Newcastle’s Nick Waltemade was named in the squad despite a mixed season for the club and looked to be getting better as a deep riding forward.
Kai Havertz is sometimes used as a false nine, but that is not his most natural position. However, in the absence of a better replacement, Arsenal’s star player is likely to be snapped up.
Despite the team’s limitations, Nagelsmann remains ambitious.
“I have said repeatedly that I want to be world champion,” Nagelsmann said during the squad announcement.
What does their group look like?
Not to disrespect the other teams, but Germany must have breathed a sigh of relief when Group E was drawn. On paper, they would expect to make comfortable progress.
They open their season on June 14th against Curacao, the smallest country to ever participate in the World Cup.
The second leg against Ivory Coast on June 20 will be a tougher test, as the Ivorians are returning to the World Cup for the first time in 12 years and are a dangerous team with the likes of Amad Diallo.
The final group match will be on June 25th, when they will face Ecuador, who finished in second place in the qualifying round ahead of Brazil, Colombia and Uruguay. They are a disciplined team, conceding just five goals in 18 qualifying games, and could be difficult for Germany to break down.
Still, Germany is hoping to reach the final round of the World Cup for the first time since lifting the trophy in 2014.
germany group stage matches
⚽ June 14: Germany vs Curacao (Houston, Texas, USA), noon (17:00 GMT)
⚽ June 20: Germany vs. Ivory Coast (Toronto, Canada), 4pm (20:00 GMT)
⚽ June 25: Ecuador vs. Germany (East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA), 4pm (20:00 GMT)
germany world cup national team
Goalkeeper: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Alexander Noubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Joshua Kimmich (captain, Bayern Munich), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Jonathan Tarr (Bayern Munich), Va. Rudemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), Malik Thiau (Newcastle United)
Midfielders: Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich) Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Felix Nmeka (Borussia Dortmund), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Pascal Gross (Brighton, Hove Albion)
Forwards: Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Deniz Unduff (Stuttgart), Jamie Leveling (Stuttgart), Nick Waltemaid (Newcastle United), Maximilian Beyer (Borussia Dortmund)
