Germany look to get past group stage for first time since 2014published at 13:42 BST
Germany v Ivory Coast (21:00 BST)
Image source, Getty Images
Ultimately, it was a Japanese cross, kept in play by millimetres before being bundled into the Spanish net, that caused Germany’s group-stage exit from Qatar 2022.
The thickness of a thermally-bonded polyurethane panel – the difference between going on, and going home.
But even the most die-hard fan of Die Mannschaft would accept there were more macro factors at play to explain Germany’s second World Cup failure in a row.
Some commentators said their traditional values, centred around physicality, were outdated, and that the coaching system should instead promote freedom of expression.
In defence of tradition, Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger blamed former Bayern coach Pep Guardiola for importing “short-pass” football into the Bundesliga, which spread contagiously, wiping out those traditional values.
It’s doubtful any of the old guard, who triumphed through mental fortitude and reliability, would ever have imagined a German World Cup campaign unravelling in chaos as the goalkeeper lost possession while dribbling around the edge of the opposition box, as Manuel Neuer did in 2018.
Germany’s victory against Curacao matched their 7-1 semi-final success over Brazil in 2014 – the last time they lifted the trophy – and took them past the Selecao as the World Cup’s leading scorers with 239 goals.
A win over Ivory Coast will gurantee a spot in the round of 32- so can they finally get past the group stage for the first time in 12 years?
