Germany go into the 2014 World Cup as one of the favourites but then they do every World Cup and you only have to look at their record to see why. Germany have been crowned world champions on three occasions, four times runners-up as well as finishing third three times, this from a team that only beat England for the first time in 1968. Whilst Italy have won more titles as Europe’s most successful team, you could argue that Germany have been consistently the strongest.
Germany finished third at the last two World Cup finals in Germany and South Africa and would obviously like to go at least one step further in Brazil. Their path to the final should see them finish top of their group that includes Portugal and from there they could play Russia in the second round followed by a possible encounter with France in the Quarter-Finals. The Semi-final’s would likely pitch them with Lionel Messi’s Argentina. Then maybe, just maybe a final with England, Spain or Brazil.
Germany have a talented squad of players that they nurtured over successive tournaments with an advanced development strategy and who are now in their prime. Whilst conditions and home advantage will favour the South American teams you can never write-off Germany.
At the World Cup they will be led by Philipp Lahm and ably assisted by Schweinsteiger, Neuer, Ozil, Muller, Gotze, Kroos and with a 36-year-old Klose looking to break Ronaldo’s all-time World Cup goals record. This squad has come of age and it’s time for them to prove that the predictions of them one day winning the World Cup wasn’t simply flattery.
Source: DSG
