The objective is to get back to their best. The fresh air that Flick has brought to the team has been good news for Germany after two of their worst ever tournaments, as they were eliminated in the groups in Russia in 2018 and as they only reached the last 16 at the last European Championship. The mix of classic stars (Kimmich, Muller, Neuer, Ter Stegen, Gundogan) and new up-and-coming talents could work at this World Cup, where the goal is for Germany to compete until the latter stages.
Germany have travelled to Qatar with a new manager in charge for the first time since 2006, with Hansi Flick at the helm for the four-time World Cup winners.
Joachim Low opted to end his time in charge of the German national side after Euro 2020, with Flick persuaded to leave Bayern Munich to replace him in the top job.
Flick has freshened up Low’s tactics, with seven consecutive wins in World Cup qualification under their new head coach, and just two goals conceded in that run. Hansi Flick has re-injected optimism into his squad ahead of the 2022 edition in Qatar, with Germany’s World Cup record making them among the favorites.
Despite dropping out at the group stages in Russia four years ago, Germany have been one of the most consistent national sides in World Cup history, with a triumph in 2014, alongside two semifinals, and a runner-up spot, since 2002.
With a balanced squad, including an experienced core, and some of Europe’s most exciting young players, Flick will be confident of repairing the damage of 2018, though late injuries to star players Timo Werner and Marco Reus have complicated matters.
Germany World Cup squad 2022
It was a case of big names missing out through injury as Flick announced his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
For a while it had been known that Leipzig forward Werner would miss the showpiece event with an ankle injury but news of Dortmund’s Reus also missing the tournament caused a sense of sadness amongst German ranks and supporters alike.
Wonder kid Florian Wirtz also missed out after failing to recover from injury in time and there was no place for decorated centre back Mats Hummels.
There is however a surprise inclusion in the form of midfielder Mario Gotze who hasn’t played for the German national team since 2017.
The World Cup winning goalscorer in 2014 has enjoyed some exceptional form in recent seasons, at PSV, and now with Eintracht Frankfurt, and Flick views him as the perfect replacement for Reus.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| GK | 1 | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich (GER) | 36 | 114 |
| GK | 22 | Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Barcelona (SPA) | 30 | 30 |
| GK | 12 | Kevin Trapp | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 32 | 6 |
| DEF | 25 | Armel Bella-Kotchap | Southampton (ENG) | 20 | 2 |
| DEF | 4 | Mattias Ginter | SC Freiburg (GER) | 28 | 47 |
| DEF | 20 | Christian Gunter | Freiburg (GER) | 29 | 7 |
| DEF | 5 | Thilo Kehrer | West Ham (ENG) | 26 | 23 |
| DEF | 16 | Lukas Klostermann | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 19 |
| DEF | 3 | David Raum | RB Leipzig (GER) | 24 | 12 |
| DEF | 2 | Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid (SPA) | 29 | 54 |
| DEF | 23 | Nico Schlotterbeck | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 22 | 6 |
| DEF | 15 | Niklas Sule | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 27 | 42 |
| MID | 17 | Julian Brandt | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 26 | 39 |
| MID | 8 | Leon Goretzka | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 44 |
| MID | 21 | Ilkay Gundogan | Manchester City (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
| MID | 11 | Mario Gotze | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 30 | 63 |
| MID | 18 | Jonas Hofmann | B. Monchengladbach (GER) | 30 | 17 |
| MID | 6 | Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 71 |
| MID | 14 | Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich (GER) | 19 | 17 |
| MID | 13 | Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich (GER) | 33 | 118 |
| MID | 19 | Leroy Sane | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 48 |
| Forward | 26 | Youssoufa Moukoko | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 17 | 1 |
| Forward | 24 | Karim Adeyemi | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 20 | 4 |
| Forward | 9 | Niclas Fullkrug | Werder Bremen (GER) | 29 | 1 |
| Forward | 10 | Serge Gnabry | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 36 |
| Forward | 7 | Kai Havertz | Chelsea (ENG) | 23 | 31 |
Germany national team stars, strengths & weaknesses
Previous World Cup perceptions of Germany were shattered in Russia in 2018 when they bowed out at the group stage. Flick will be under some pressure to wipe that from the national footballing memory.
The likelihood is that of 2018 being a blip in Germany’s World Cup record, with a minimum of a semifinal appearance in every other edition since the turn of the century.
Flick has a reputation as one of the best young coaches in the international game, but a Round of 16 exit at Euro 2021 did not do him justice.
Stars
The Bayern Munich duo of Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller look set for their final World Cup, but it is their Bavarian teammates who could hold the key for Flick in Qatar.
Joshua Kimmich’s excellence as a midfield pivot is the basis on which Germany are built alongside the goals and creativity of Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane out wide.
Strengths
Antonio Rudiger will underpin the German defence as part of the Neuer-Kimmich-Muller spine and it will be an ability to control central areas that could be crucial for Flick.
Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan will partner Kimmich in midfield with Leon Goretzka also drafted in if Germany need an extra body in midfield.
Weaknesses
Flick is likely to rotate between Muller and Chelsea star Kai Havertz as a false No. 9 in Qatar, but despite their respective ability to score important goals, they do not have the potency of a Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski as a lead attacker.
Timo Werner had regained his form at RB Leipzig this season, but the torn ankle ligament injury picked up on November 2 ruled him out of the tournament.
Germany World Cup group
Germany travel to Qatar with a FIFA rank of No.12 and they will be confident of making it out of Group E.
Their second group game against Spain on November 27, looks to be Flick’s first major World Cup test, either side of facing Japan and Costa Rica.
Germany kick off their Group E campaign against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium, ahead of Spain taking on Costa Rica in the second group fixture a few hours later.
Flick’s side will face La Roja at the Al Bayt Stadium four days later, in their second group-stage game, with the two European powerhouses having built up a fierce rivalry in recent years.
That clash is likely to be the king maker in Group E, before Germany wrap up against group outsiders Costa Rica.
World Cup Group E fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Germany vs. Japan | 8 a.m. | Khalifa Int’l |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Spain vs. Costa Rica | 11 a.m. | Al Thumama |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Japan vs. Costa Rica | 5 a.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Spain vs. Germany | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
| Thurs, Dec. 1 | Japan vs. Spain | 2 p.m. | Khalifa Int’l |
| Thurs, Dec. 1 | Costa Rica vs. Germany | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
Germany vs. Japan squad, lineup
Despite missing the final round of UEFA Nations League games, captain Ter Stegen will return as first choice, as a key voice in Flick’s squad.
Rudiger will also come back in, to partner Niklas Sule in central defence, with attacking left-back Robin Gosens a possible option if Flick wants to start on the front foot.
Flick can do without Goretzka in the opening game, with an exciting Bayern inspired trio of Gnabry, Sane and Jamal Musiala, behind either Muller or Havertz.
Germany projected starting XI vs Japan
Goalkeeper: Marc-Andre Ter Stegen
Defenders: Thilo Kehrer — Niklas Sule — Antonio Rudiger — David Raum
Midfielders: Joshua Kimmich — Ilkay Gundogan
Attacking Mids: Serge Gnabry — Jamal Musiala — Leroy Sane
Forward: Kai Havertz
COACH
HANS-DIETER FLICK
The man who has taken over as head coachfrom Low has freshened up and reoxy-genated the German machine.
THE STAR
JOSHUA KIMMICH
The team revolves around the BayernMunich midfielder, who is the anchorand all-important player in this side. Ifhe is in form and in shape, that is a greatstart for Germany. Put simply, he is atop-class player.
LINE-UP (1-4-2-3-1)
THE BEST
Flick has been a breath of fresh air after a couple of fail-ures, with the youth giving new power to Die Mannschaft.
THE WORST
The pressure will be as intense as possible for a nationalteam that arrives after two humbling tournaments in arow
Bengali