Draw makes for a World Cup hammer: DFB-Elf has to play against Spain and Japan in Qatar

Draw ensures World Cup hammer
DFB-Elf has to play against Spain and Japan in Qatar

At the controversial football World Cup in Qatar in winter, the German national team will, as expected, have to deal with a real hit in the group phase: In Doha, the DFB team Spain will be drawn.

The German national soccer team meets Spain in preliminary round group E at the World Cup in Qatar (November 21 to December 18). That was the result of the FIFA draw in Doha, in which Lothar Matthäus drew the decisive lot. Subsequently, Japan was also drawn into the German group, the opponent of Hansi Flick and his team in the first round match on November 23rd. The national coach, who was shown on TV, stayed cool during the Spanish draw and didn’t make a face.

Costa Rica or New Zealand – the two teams still face off in a play-off game – complete Group E. Three World Cup places will not be awarded until June, so placeholders were used in the draw. In Europe, Ukraine’s game in Scotland was postponed because of the war. The winner of the game in Glasgow – also in June – plays in Cardiff against Wales for World Cup qualification. In addition, Peru plays against the winner between Australia and the United Arab Emirates.

Memories of the embarrassing 0:6

With the playfully strong Spaniards, Germany has always had problems in the past. At the 2010 World Cup, the DFB team lost 1-0 to Spain in the semi-finals. The bitter 6-0 defeat in November 2020 with ex-national coach Joachim Löw is also remembered. It was the second heaviest defeat in DFB history and the beginning of the end for Loew, who was replaced by Flick after last year’s European Championship.

“It was clear that we would get a strong opponent from pot one,” said captain Manuel Neuer on MagentaTV. “We have negative memories, but that doesn’t happen to us twice. We’re confident that we’ll have a successful tournament.” The national team will face Spain on November 27th.

“It’s a real chunk,” said Rio world champion Bastian Schweinsteiger on ARD and predicted with a view to the Iberians: “We’ll both fight for first place.” But Japan – peppered with a few Bundesliga professionals – shouldn’t be underestimated either. The ex-Bayern also believes Costa Rica can beat New Zealand to become Germany’s final group opponents on December 1st. Most recently, Los Ticos even beat World Cup participants USA 2-0.

As twelfth in the world rankings, Flick’s team only ended up in pot 2, so a hammer opponent in the first phase of the tournament was likely. But the self-confidence after the successful restart is great. “There’s only one goal for me, that’s the world championship title. We didn’t cover ourselves with glory in the most recent tournaments and we want to make up for it,” said goalkeeper Neuer.

For the DFB selection, Qatar is about a sign on the big stage. In 2018, Germany, as the defending champion under Flick predecessor Joachim Löw, crashed in a balanced group with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea. A wound to heal in Qatar. The national coach was a little happy about Group E, because that leaves his team with two more days of preparation – the Bundesliga will only say goodbye to the World Cup break on November 13th.

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