Teams
It feels like Germany have been going through somewhat of a transition. Results in recent World Cups have been disappointing and in the two World Cups since lifting the trophy in 2014, they have been dumped out at the Group Stages. Their qualification campaign started shakily too; when they were defeated by Slovakia in the opening game, many wondered if they would struggle to qualify for a tournament that they have not failed to appear in since 1954. But those worries were short-lived as they went on to win their next five games, conceding one goal in the process, and Germany qualified yet again for the biggest tournament in football. Two years in the European Championships they were knocked out by eventual winners Spain in the quarter finals and they will be looking to build on that momentum they have gathered in the last two years.
23 year old Wirtz made a big money transfer from Leverkusen to Liverpool a year ago, and though he has not quite taken the league by storm, he has been virtually everpresent in Liverpool’s line up and for his country, is one of the most vital pieces of creativity they have. Averaging a goal every 4 games for his country, the former German Footballer of the Year, who has also appeared three times in the Bundesliga Team of the Year despite his tender age, will need to be at his best if Germany are to avoid disappointment again.
