Germany are aiming to do away with dreadful memories of Russia 2018 as they kick start their 2022 Group E World Cup campaign against Japan at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha today (Wednesday).
Germany has never been knocked out in the group stage since 1950 and Die Mannschaft can guarantee a spot in the Round of 16 with three points in this afternoon's Group E opener, looking at the players they've paraded for the tournament.
However, Japan will not go scot-free easily in this ultimate clash of fearless underdogs against top studded Die Mannschaft, but football fanatics who normally love to see a good upset will likely find themselves rooting for the sixth most valuable team worth €1.02 billion euros ($1.05bn) in the encounter.
Hosts Qatar excepted, Germany were the first team to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup - with a very impressive form, doing so on 11th October 2021. Germany won nine of their 10 games in the European qualifiers (L1), with only England (39) netting more goals than the Germans (36, excluding play-offs).
On the other hand, the Samurai Blue's of Japan qualified to their seventh World Cup with a game to spare following a dramatic victory in Australia.
TEAM NEWS
Germany will be without posterboy Marco Reus who suffered yet another cruel injury blow to rule him out of the mundial, having also missed Euro 2016, Euro 2020 and the triumphant 2014 World Cup tournament.
However, Hansi Flick will be working with a fully-fit squad for the opening matchday against the Samurai Blue's barring knee victim Leroy Sane, with striker Niclas Fullkrug back from illness and the duo of Antonio Rudiger and Thomas Muller also returning to full scale training over the weekend.
Muller, who is just returning to the national team following his exile, will now aim to build on a record of 10 goals and six assists in 16 World Cup games for Germany, and the Bayern Munich veteran will hope to get the nod as a starter to spearhead the charge.
With Japan, Wataru Endo and Karou Mitoma have overcome a head injury and ailment respectively to make themselves available, while Sporting Lisbon midfielder Hidemasa Morita is back from a calf issue and could be deemed fit enough to start.
Arsenal right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu was rested against Canada following his recent muscular problem but should be fine to take his place in the team against the Germans, most likely alongside 122-cap skipper Maya Yoshida in the heart of defence.
Attacking options are rife within the Samurai Blue's ranks for the World Cup, and Takuma Asano's greater international experience compared to his fellow forwards should work in his favour.
PROBABLE XI
Germany:
Neuer (c) - Kehrer, Süle, Rüdiger, Raum - Kimmich, Goretzka - Hofmann, Musiala, Gnabry - Havertz
Japan:
Kawashima - Sakai, Yoshida (c), Ito, Nagatomo - Endo, Shibaski - Kubo, Kamada, Minamino - Maeda
MATCH OFFICIALS
Center Referee: Iván Barton (El Salvador)
Assistant 1: David Morán Santos (El Salvador)
Assistant 2: Zachari Zeegelaar (Suriname)
Fourth Official: Saíd Martínez (Honduras)
CHANNEL: SuperSport, Fox Sports, Score808.com, 9goal.tv
KICKOFF: 1300GMT (1:00pm)
By: Pascal Nii Gogo Amoah
