National soccer team
That is why the Italy duel is so important for the World Cup
A show of strength with Italy is always explosive. Julian Nagelsmann makes it clear before the quarter -finals of the Nations League why victories are now particularly important. It’s about possible World Cup opponents.
For Julian Nagelsmann, the start of the Krachern anniversary of the national football team against Italy is not just about the chance of title in the Nations League. Double strength with the Squadra Azzurra in the quarter-finals of the UEFA competition also has a direct impact on the starting point of the DFB selection at the World Cup next year.
Germany wins on Thursday (8:45 p.m./ARD) and also in the second leg on Sunday (8:45 p.m./RTL) in Dortmund against Italy, then the chances of an easier preliminary round group in America will increase in America.
Italy displace ninth
The reason: With two wins, the DFB team would move in ninth in the FIFA world rankings from tenth place past Italy. If this rank can be held, Germany would be set in the pot of the best teams at the World Cup group draw. Direct duels with the top nations such as world champion Argentina, European champion Spain, France, England or Brazil would then not be possible at the time of the tournament.
Nagelsmann also made it clear that he does not want to land in the group of Mexico. Like the other two organizers USA and Canada, the co-host is set as another head of the twelve groups. All three would be potential preliminary round opponents if Germany did not make one in Lost pot.
“It is important to be a team in the World Cup draw in order to be able to avoid a team like Mexico with the geographical conditions,” said Nagelsmann. Potential venues in Group A with Mexico would be Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey in Mexico with altitude and high temperatures as well as Atlanta in the USA. Nagelsmann is apparently not approved.
Keep an eye on the chasing quartet
The gap to Italy in the world rankings is currently almost 28 points. He could be made up for with two wins in the direct duels. The world rankings are calculated by FIFA with a specially created mathematical formula in which all individual results are taken into account.
At least ninth place would then have to be defended in the National League finals in June and the World Cup qualification from September to November. However, caution is advised: Uruguay, Colombia, Croatia and Morocco of the DFB team are on the places with less than 20 points behind the heels.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
