Germany (Die Mannschaft) – World Cup Profile | OneFootball

After winning the 2014 World Cup, Germany suffered something they never expected. They got knocked out from the group stage in back-to-back World Cups.

So this year, they will want to make up for failures in 2018 and 2022, and make a deep run. They certainly have the players and the manager to do so.

Without further ado, let’s take a look at Germany.

How They Qualified

Germany had a great record in the World Cup qualifiers, except for the loss to Slovakia in the very first game. In a group that also included Northern Ireland, and Luxembourg, they won five out of six games and qualified with ease.

They got their revenge against Slovakia just two months after the loss, beating them 6-0 at home. A classic German thrashing, and a great way to finish out the qualifiers.

Key Players

Florian Wirtz

One player that will be key to Germany’s success is Florian Wirtz.

After breaking through at Bayer Leverkusen, Wirtz started getting into the German squad in 2021 but unfortunately missed the 2022 World Cup with an ACL injury.

Since the return, he’s just gotten better and was a massive part of Leverkusen’s Bundesliga win and Germany’s Euro 2024 campaign.

He hasn’t shown the same brilliance in Liverpool so far, but this World Cup is a great opportunity for him to rediscover his old self.

Jamal Musiala

This is another young player who can be a difference maker in this squad.

At 23, Jamal Musiala is the same age as Wirtz. After breaking through at Bayern Munich, he became the youngest German player to feature in a major tournament for Germany in a 2–2 draw with Hungary back in 2021, when he was only 18.

He’s had a rough year dealing with an injury, but it looks like he’s fully recovered and ready to perform at the World Cup. With him and Wirtz together, the German attack is going to be lethal.

Potential Breakout Player: Aleksandar Pavlović

If you are a Bayern Munich fan, then you would be familiar with how good Aleksandar Pavlović is.

Born to Serbian father and German mother, the midfielder started earning regular time at Bayern by 2023 and made his Germany debut in 2024. Although he was selected for Euro 2024, he missed out due to illness.

Two years later, Pavlović is on the World Cup squad and this time, he won’t be missing out. He will be hoping this World Cup is a breakout tournament for him with the national team and he can replicate his club performances.

World Cup History

If you are a fan of football, you’d be familiar with Germany’s history at the World Cup. They’ve won this tournament four times, tied with Italy as the second most.

Three of the wins came as West Germany in 1954, 1974, and 1990. Meanwhile, they won their last one in 2014 as the unified Germany.

They’ve also finished second four times and third four times. So this is a team that’s rich in history and takes pride in their World Cup performances. Getting knocked out of group stage in back-to-back World Cups was unprecedented for them.

Coach Profile: Julian Nagelsmann

After what happened in the 2022 World Cup, Germany brought in a top young coach in Julian Nagelsmann.

Still 38, he is younger than their keeper Manuel Neuer. But he’s already gained so much experience in management with clubs like Hoffenheim, RB Leipzig, and Bayern Munich.

His first assignment for the national team came in Euro 2024, which Germany hosted. Although they played well throughout the tournament, they got eliminated in quarterfinal by Spain in a controversial fashion.

Two years on, he is understanding the role of a national team coach more and he could do some damage with this squad.

Fan Culture

German clubs are known for their ultras who never stop singing or jumping around. It makes for a brilliance atmosphere during their games.

The German national team, however, attracts a different type of fanbase. The fans tend to be more family friendly types, and they are way less crazy than what you see at club games.

That doesn’t mean they’re not passionate though. In fact, a lot of Germans have travelled to the U.S. and some are pleasantly surprised with what the U.S. has to offer. There is even one fan who’s gone viral after documenting his trip.

There weren’t that many German fans in Qatar and Russia, but expect a huge support for them this summer.

Group Stage Fixtures