Now the German team needs to win against Spain, of all teams, or they will be eliminated from the preliminary round. Behind the scenes, the analysis of mistakes is open and ruthless.
If the German team wants to progress into the last 16 on its own merits, a big win against Costa Rica in the last match is a must. But at half-time the score is only 1:0.
At the beginning of November 2022, the German team starts its mission to win the title in Qatar. But the usual euphoria is missing. The preparation has been mixed and many fans in Germany reject the "Desert World Cup" in the winter.
The opening match against Japan is coming up, but instead of talking about football, all eyes are on a piece of cloth: The scandal surrounding captain Manuel Neuer's armband is dominating the headlines.