STRENGTH IN DEPTH MAKES GERMANY TICK
Fight is on for second place in Group F with Mexico, Sweden and South Korea in the mix
World Cup holders Germany appear to have been given a fairly kind draw in Group F alongside Mexico, Sweden and South Korea as they aim to become the first country to successfully defend the trophy since Brazil in 1962.
Such is the strength in depth available to coach Joachim Loew — who recently extended his contract through to 2022 — that there was no place in the squad for Mario Goetze, scorer of the winning goal against Argentina in the 2014 final, and Manchester City’s Leroy Sane.
Manuel Neuer’s fitness has been the biggest concern, but given that Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen can step in for him, they might not even really need the Bayern Munich goalkeeper.
Germany won last year’s Confederations Cup in Russia with a young squad that showcased their great strength in depth. That run included a 4-1 destruction of Mexico in the semi-finals.
The Mexicans qualified comfortably for Russia but ‘El Tri’ have fallen in the last 16 in each of the last six World Cups and matching that is probably the height of their ambitions this time.
It could be an interesting battle between Juan Carlos Osorio’s side, Sweden and the Koreans for second place behind the Germans.
Sweden are back at the tournament after dramatically ousting Italy in a play-off — they also beat France in qualifying so should not be underestimated in this post-Zlatan Ibrahimovic era.
The Koreans, meanwhile, have made little impression on the World Cup finals apart from reaching the semis as co-hosts in 2002. With a squad mainly made up of players based at home, or in China and Japan, they will hope to spring a surprise here.
Their opening match against Sweden in Nizhny Novgorod on June 18 will be crucial, while Germany kick off their title defence against Mexico in Moscow a day earlier.
But whoever comes second risks a last-16 meeting with Brazil.
Germany midfielder Toni Kroos will carry the hopes of his nation for a successful World Cup title defence in Russia having matured into a natural leader of the team. The 28-year-old has enjoyed another stellar season with Real Madrid, helping them win the Champions League.
He also lifted the trophy with the Spanish giants in the previous two seasons and was in the Bayern Munich team who won Europe’s top club competition in 2013.
A World Cup winner in 2014, Kroos, who left Bayern over a pay dispute, is the team’s heartbeat and chief conductor.
Intelligent and highly skilled, Kroos is involved in almost every team move with his number of passes per game at around 80 and his average passing accuracy close to 95 percent.
His form is usually the barometer for Germany’s overall performance as the hard-working midfielder, whose crosses and set pieces are as effective as his passing, takes full responsibility within the team.
Meanwhile, Mexico veteran Rafael Marquez is set to join an elite club of footballers when he plays in his fifth World Cup.
Marquez, who made his World Cup debut in South Korea and Japan in 2002, will join Gianluigi Buffon of Italy, Lothar Matthaeus of Germany and fellow Mexican Antonio Carbajal as the only players to have appeared in five editions of the tournament.
Midfielder Emil Forsberg, known for his knack of cracking open a defence with the perfect pass, carries Swedish hopes into the 2018 World Cup following his exceptional season with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
Football runs in the 26-year-old’s family: his grandfather Lennart Forsberg played for Sundsvall in eastern Sweden, and his father Leif was a legend at the same club, scoring 143 goals in more than 400 games between 1980 and 1990.
South Korea will need their talisman Son Heung-Min to bring his sparkling English Premier League form to the World Cup if they are to survive a devilishly tricky group.
The Koreans crashed out in the first round of the 2014 tournament in Brazil and have their work cut out to avoid the same fate in Russia.
But they boast genuine star quality in snake-hipped Tottenham forward Son. One of the best players to emerge from Asia, the 25-year-old scored 18 goals in all competitions in a brilliant campaign with the London club and once again carries the hopes of a nation heading into the World Cup.