Previous World Cup appearances: 20Best performance: Winners (1954, 1974, 1990, 2014)First appearance: 1934 (Italy)Top goal scorer: Miroslav Klose (16)Most appearances: Lothar Matthaus (25)Player to watch: Florian WirtzFIFA world ranking: 8Germany are desperate for a successful World Cup after two spectacular failures – they were knocked out in the group stages in 2018 and 2022.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of listThey certainly look improved under coach Julian Nagelsmann. Germany eased through their World Cup qualification group with five wins from six matches.The squad blends the youthful brilliance of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz with the experience of Joshua Kimmich, Antonio Rudiger and veteran goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, who surprised many by coming out of international retirement for the tournament.However, whether the team as a whole is talented enough to pose a serious threat to the favourites and whether all the pieces really fit together under the pressure of a tournament remain to be seen.Group stage hoodooGary Lineker famously said: “Football is a simple game: 22 men chase a ball for 90 minutes, and at the end, the Germans always win.”So the failures of the last two tournaments were almost unthinkable for the four-time winners.In 2018, they crashed out after losing to South Korea. In 2022, they were defeated by Japan en route to being eliminated on goal difference.Nagelsmann took over in September 2023 and has restored some national pride.Germany looked decent as the host nation at Euro 2024 and were perhaps unlucky to lose to Spain in the quarterfinals. The mood around the squad seems optimistic, and they will expect to go deep in the tournament.Gifted young attackersAt the heart of Germany’s ambitions are gifted young attackers in Mu …
