Survival at stake for Germany in face-off vs Spain

When the fixtures for the 2022 FIFA World Cup were drawn back in July, it was the clash between Germany and Spain on Sunday night that the world would have taken special note of. The consensus was that Group E was the most difficult of the eight groups — Japan and Costa Rica are the other teams in the group — and the game between the two European heavyweights promised a mouthwatering teaser of the high-octane action expected during the knockout phase.

There were enough interesting subplots already, but Germany’s shock 1-2 loss to Japan in their opening game has only enhanced the stakes. Another defeat would consign them to their fifth loss in six games since winning the 2014 World Cup final, resulting in a calamitous group-stage exit in back-to-back World Cups.

That would be wholly out of character for the Germans, who are traditionally primed to raise their game at major competitions. Four World Cup titles and three European titles bear testimony to that. Their endeavour to reclaim that sort of supremacy is a long way away. All that they need to focus on is notching up three points on Sunday because the duration of their stay in Qatar is at stake. “The last two tournaments were not (good),” Germany coach Hansi Flick told a media conference on Saturday, referring to the early exit in 2018 and loss in the Round of 16 at the Euros last year. “We want to avoid a repeat of this. The focus is on concentration. This is the first final for us at the World Cup and that’s what it’s about — to avoid a repeat of that.”

Leroy Sane can possibly help the Germans in this regard. The pacy, left-footed winger missed their last game against Japan due to injury. His right knee was strapped as he returned to training ahead of the Spain game, though Flick refused to confirm his participation. “We have to wait for final training and afterwards we can say more (about Sane),” he said. “It is good news that he can train. Our medics did a lot of good work and we will see how the training goes.”

Spain, of course, have no such concerns for the time being. Since winning the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, the Spaniards too have been fighting a battle to sustain the standards that saw them win two European Championships and one World Cup from 2008 to 2012. A dip was perhaps only to be expected, bowing out of the last two World Cups at the group stage and Round of 16 respectively.

But they have stuck to their guns, immersing themselves wholeheartedly in that tiki-taka philosophy and finding players who can carry forward the legacy of Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Gavi and Pedri, schooled in the famed Barcelona system, offer the most promise in this regard. Having demolished Costa Rica 7-0 in their opener, they seem wellplaced to not just advance to the next stage but reach the business end of the showpiece event.