Doha (dpa) – Hansi Flick met Luis Enrique for a short World Cup chat while still on the gala stage. Next to his Spanish colleague, the national coach posed for a photo together and then commented on the hit lot with anticipation.
“That was awesome,” said Flick. In the group phase of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the German national team will face ex-world champions Spain, opening opponents Japan and the winner of the playoff game between Costa Rica and New Zealand.
“It’s a great group”
Flick noted the opponents in the group draw on Friday in his wide white armchair in the fifth row of the conference center in the World Cup capital Doha. Spain is “of course a top favorite for the title too,” said Flick and announced with a smile that he would talk to the record international Lothar Matthäus, who had drawn the Germany ball in Group E: “I have to speak to Lothar again.” Flick posed smiling for photos with the Spanish national coach Luis Enrique on the draw stage. The golden World Cup was already within reach. “It’s a great group,” said the Spaniard.
“Germany is a power. The Germans have a top coach, they have improved and changed too. But we are Spain, we are also a power and we are seventh in the FIFA rankings,” Enrique later told journalists and already looked ahead: “All games will be difficult. But we know Germany very well.”
Negative experiences with Spain
The DFB selection starts on November 23 against Japan – the stadium and kick-off time are expected to be announced on April 2. The big game against Spain takes place four days later on the first Sunday in Advent. “It was clear that we would get a very good opponent from pot one,” said DFB captain Manuel Neuer at Magenta: “Now it’s Spain, we’ve had negative experiences there in the past, but I think something like that happens us twice.”
In 2008 Germany had lost the European Championship final against Spain, in 2010 the World Cup semifinals ended because of the Iberians. Spain celebrated the World Cup title in South Africa. And still fresh in memory: The very painful 0: 6 in the Nations League in November 2020 at the end of Joachim Löw’s era as national coach.
Tournaments are always about the form on the day
“We respect all opponents, we have to play at the highest level,” said Matthäus. The third German group game is scheduled for December 1st, before that Costa Rica and New Zealand have to play for the World Cup ticket next June. Hosts Qatar will play the opening game of the World Cup against Ecuador on November 21. DFB Director Oliver Bierhoff revealed that Germany will not join until two days later.
In the round of 16, opponents from Group F would be waiting – Belgium, Canada, Morocco or Croatia. In the quarterfinals, Brazil would be a possible opponent. “Especially in tournaments it’s always about the day’s form in the knockout games, you have to be one step ahead. You have to be clever. We haven’t covered ourselves with glory in the recent past,” said Neuer.
Advance praise from Infantino “greatest show on earth”
The draw, which was also moderated by Hollywood star Idris Elba, was celebrated by the Qatari hosts as a large light show with elements traditional for the emirate. Qatar’s Head of State, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, stepped into the main hall of the conference center as the guest of honor, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino at his side. The Swiss has already praised the upcoming finals as “the best of all time”, as the “greatest show on earth”.
As the day before at the FIFA Congress, Infantino also addressed the difficult world situation without directly mentioning the war of aggression by the previous World Cup hosts Russia against Ukraine. “The world is divided, there are many arguments,” said the FIFA President. “That’s why it’s so important to bring people back together. The World Cup is a good opportunity for that. That’s why I would like to beg all political decision-makers: please, please stop the war, try to reach out to each other and stand up for peace. I beg you at.”
Political explosiveness in Group B
In Group B there is a politically explosive game between the USA and Iran. Ukraine would also be sorted into this group should they be able to play the playoffs in the summer. She would have to beat Scotland first and then Wales to go to the World Cup.
The Emir emphasized: “It is important that we as people on this earth approach each other.” The sheikh wished all participants “good luck”. As expected, major criticism of the human rights situation and the conditions for foreign workers, which human rights organizations renewed this week, was not an issue at the big FIFA show.
Secluded World Cup quarters wanted
On the way to the World Cup, Flick and his team have six competitive games in the Nations League of the European Football Union. Four games are scheduled for June, against the European champions Italy, who have not qualified for the World Cup, in Munich against England, in Hungary and in Mönchengladbach against the Italians. The second leg against Hungary and England will follow in September. The release obligation for the clubs begins immediately after the 15th Bundesliga matchday on November 14th.
The decision as to where the DFB selection will set up their World Cup quarters should be announced shortly after the draw, Bierhoff said. According to reports, the Zulal Wellness Resort in the very north of the emirate is the DFB favorite. The luxury facility a good 100 kilometers north of the capital Doha, which will become the World Cup centre, offers the seclusion from the hustle and bustle that Flick also wants. “We’ll go deep into ourselves again,” said Bierhoff, who then mentioned the advantages of a neighborhood away from the hustle and bustle: “Of course, traffic in the city also plays a role.”