Brazil and Italy had succeeded to meet the deed in 1958 and 1968 when Brazil took two consecutive World Cups and so did Italy in 1934 and 1938 but a nation defending its FIFA World Cup title like Germany has never been seen in the modern football history.
In Retrospect
Nowadays when footballs is nothing like the times when names like Guiseppe Meazza, Silvio Piola and Garrincha played the field with class and elegance, the new and exceptionally gifted German team is ready to crave its own name in the archives of football.
Seemingly unstoppable, the four-time world champions from 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014 won a Confederations Cup this summer as a fool proof preparation in their quest to adding another trophy to their golden collection.
In the face of scepticism rising from the fact that Die Mannschaft went to Russia with a second-string side, the FIFA-organised international competition earlier this summer in Russia was found as an opportunity for Joachim Low to test the capabilities and boundaries of his squad.
The revived winning team dominated over its rivals to the Confederations Cup title and won with ease against Chile with 1-0 in the final. Lars Stindl’s goal changed the game for the German team and headed home not only with a trophy but as a huge moral bonus before the critical stage of the World Cup qualifying campaign.
Remarkable March to the Final Feat in Russia
After the disappointing Euro 2016 semi-final elimination in France, Die Mannschaft made a classical come-back and continued their unbeatable progress through Group C with three successive 2018 FIFA World Cup wins.
On Thursday evening the raging German team reached the 18-match unbeaten streak when smashing otherwise superb Northern Ireland team with a comfortable 3-1 win.
Thus Germany seized their World Cup ticket and a spare game and will head up to Azerbaijan on Sunday impatient to celebrate with their home fans at Fritz-Walter-Stadium in Kaiserslautern.
Once again, even in the absence of key players such as Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira, Marco Reus, Mario Gotze and Manuel Neuer in Belfast, Joachim Low’s team triumphed and proved its impressive history of having never lost an away World Cup qualifier.
With an extraordinary 30-yard blast Sebastian Rudy’s opened the scoring early on, followed by Joshua Kimmich’s landing of a delightful volley and Sandro Wagner with forceful invasion inside the box for the three-goal cushion wrap and another demonstration of power and dominance.
Josh Magennis succeeded to account for a cheering late goal which led to little damage to Germany’s unconditional image.
Nearly Superb Team
On a question for what aspects of his team’s performance needs improvement Joachim Low recently replied – efficiency – that is one more ideal demonstration of the German determined and uncompromising character and drive for self-improvement and success. The squad is currently at the top of Group C with an remarkable 38-3 goal difference.
Once again they succeeded proving that no German team can be titled weak and there is no doubt for a second that they will slow down and release the pressure for the final qualifier.
With a game of utmost quality, mostly in terms of off-ball movement and transition, the Germans are constantly impending and going forward, the ball is seemingly impossible to cut off and even if you succeed you will be hunt you down in an petrifying manner. Every player is an individual threat of its own giving the quality of their game. Anyone of them older than 28-29 and a leading member of the squad making the prospects bright for a winning team in Russia.
Die Mannschaft are already amongst our firm favourites at 5/1 betting odds to lift the trophy in Russia to earn their name and we wouldn’t believe there is anyone brave enough to bet against them.
