Former German soccer star Lothar Matthäus presented his country’s national team with a Herculean task in yesterday’s draw in Doha at the World Cup finals from November 21 to December 18, 2022: the 61-year-old drew the DFB selection for Group E, in which with Spain the feared opponent was waiting.
“We have bad memories there. But something like that doesn’t happen to us twice,” assured FC Bayern goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, referring to the 0: 6 debacle in the Nations League on November 17, 2020. That wasn’t the only low blow against the Iberians. The 2008 European Championship final in Vienna was also lost, as was the 2010 World Cup semi-final. The Germans celebrated their last competitive win to date at EURO 1988, it was 2-0.
The other opponents of the DFB selection are Japan and Costa Rica or New Zealand. “We have to advance one round,” emphasized one of the 2014 world champions, Bastian Schweinsteiger. You need at least two places for that. “The tasks are not that easy, from my point of view it’s an exciting group,” said DFB national coach Hansi Flick, who claimed to play for the World Cup title when he took office.
The reigning champion France, who has to deal with EM semi-finalists Denmark, Tunisia and one of the trio Peru/United Arab Emirates/Australia, also provides him. Record world champion Brazil (five titles) competes with Switzerland, Serbia and Cameroon. Hosts Qatar will enjoy the opening game at the 60,000 capacity al Bayt Stadium in Al Khour on November 21 against Ecuador.
Incidentally, if the Austrian national team had qualified for the finals, they would have ended up in Group B – with England, Iran and the United States of America. “The promotion to the round of 16 would certainly have been possible. But it’s pointless to discuss it,” said ORF expert and former ÖFB team boss Herbert Prohaska.
The World Cup final will take place on December 18 (4:00 p.m. CET) at the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which has a capacity of 86,250 fans.
World Cup in numbers
- 28 days the World Cup will last. It is the shortest finals since 1978. The tournament kicks off on November 21 with the game between Qatar and Ecuador in Al Khour. The final will take place on December 18th. Austria’s Bundesliga is on hiatus from November 12th to February 10th.
- 800,000 cards have been canceled so far. Most went to fans from host country Qatar, followed by the USA, England, Mexico and the United Arab Emirates. In the preliminary round, kick-offs are at 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., in the knockout phase there is no play before 4 p.m.
- 25 degrees it should have at least in the games. At a Summer World Cup it would probably have been up to 50 degrees.
Source: Nachrichten
