GERMANY AIMS TO MAKE UP FOR ITS TWO MAJOR TOURNAMENT EXITS FROM THE PAST FEW YEARS

A little more than eight and a half years ago, Germany humiliated Brazil by 7-1 inside their own stadium, Estadio Mineirao. Then, in the final, Germany broke Argentina's hearts and won the World Cup. Joachim Low's era began with a forgettable title defense in Russia four years later, and ended with a poor performance in the 2010 World Cup. In Group D, Germany finished with just three points after losing both to Mexico and South Korea.

The situation did not improve when Germany was eliminated from Euro 2020 in the round of 16 last summer - the first time in the postwar era that Germany had been eliminated before the quarterfinals in consecutive tournaments. There has been a growing disillusionment among German fans with Die Mannschaft, and now the players must stand up and be counted.

The situation is not entirely gloomy, as Germany has some talented players; their attacking ranks in particular should be admired. They have the promising young star Jamal Musiala, as well as Bayern Munich teammates Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry, as well as Jonas Hofmann who has found a way to score goals playing as a wingback. Timo Werner has been ruled out through injury, so it remains to be seen who will fill in as the centre-forward for the team. The name Kai Havertz comes to mind since he has plied his trade as a central midfielder for Chelsea, and you tend to get the best out of him when he is provided with a forward to supply or link up with. Aside from Karim Adeyemi, head coach Hansi Flick may also turn to Youssoufa Mokoko, whose teammates at Borussia Dortmund are expected to play a major role.

The defensive side of the game of Joshua Kimmich, who has emerged as a great technician in recent years, has been heavily criticized. Neuer may be 36 years old, but he remains one of the best goalkeepers in the world and his presence will provide his side with a tremendous advantage given he won this tournament in 2014. A 4-2-3-1 formation is likely to be deployed by Flick, but he may change it to a back five against stronger opponents, perhaps even against Spain, who they will meet in Group E. While Germany remain a team that is rebuilding and reinforcing their identity under Flick, there is still a chance that they could go far this winter. With the likes of Thomas Muller and Leon Goretzka in the mix, reaching the semi-finals is a distinct possibility, as already mentioned.

It is not going to be an easy task for them, but they certainly possess the attacking quality to hurt a team, and while they are trying to restore some dignity to their reputation at the moment, they are also anticipating their hosting of the Euros in 2024. In terms of firepower, they should be able to pose a significant threat to Costa Rica and Japan. Despite their potential to harm Spain, the biggest concern for them playing Luis Enrique's team is how they manage their defense. There is still a long way to go for Germany under Flick, but the fans who have been frustrated over the past few years are hoping to see progress ahead of the tournament at home in less than two years' time.

By Rashmi Goel