A powerful German side looks to take conquest to Brazil in this year’s World Cup. Germany will travel a fair distance of almost 5,900 miles to get to Brazil. The Germans, the third place team in South Africa, will look to dominate in a tough group G. Although they have been plagued by injuries to Manuel Neuer and Philipp Lahm, they now seem fit and ready to go in Brazil. Unfortunately for German fans, Marco Reus will no longer be going to Brazil after a shocking partial tear of a ligament in his ankle. Although a big loss, Germans have both a high quality and large quantity of world class players. Schalke youngster Julian Draxler may be the replacement for the Bundesliga Player of the Year Reus.
Group G consists of 3 teams in the top 15 teams in the World, Germany, USA, and Portugal. Germany claims the number two spot in the World, while a Ronaldo-led Portugal sits at fourth in the world. Many would expect these two top five teams to go through into the knockout stage, but they will face tough competition. The United States sits just outside the top 10 in the 13 spot, while Ghana, although ranked 36th in the World, is a solid and powerful squad. All four of the teams in Group G advanced past the Group Stage in South Africa, with Ghana knocking the USA out in the Round of 16 and Portugal falling to the champions, Spain.
Germany’s first game will be held at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador, Brazil. Salvador, Brazil’s first capital, will host six games at the Arena Fonte Nova. Originally opened in 1951, the stadium was destroyed in 2007 and renovated to hold 51,708 spectators. It will be a prime spot, and world class stadium, to kick off Germany’s World Cup quest. Germany will be taking on Portugal there on June 16th, in an epic European showdown. Cristiano Ronaldo has been dealing with multiple injuries, including a lingering knee problem. If he were to not play, Germany would be facing a Portugal side without its best player, and possibly the best in the tournament.
Five days later, the Germans will face a dynamic Ghanaian team. June 21st marks the showdown the European and African teams in the Estadio Castelao in Fortaleza. The German squad is again expected to beat the 36th ranked team. The Ghana side is nothing to laugh at however. With Michael Essien and Kevin-Prince Boateng in a commanding midfield, the Germans will not cruise by them as most people expect.
Rounding off a hard group is the June 26th game against the United States. The game will be played in the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, which is just over an hour away from Fortaleza by plane. The Americans have played a 4-2-3-1 for the majority of the time under Jurgen Klinsmann, but have been playing a 4-4-2 diamond midfield in recent friendlies. This formation could allow Germany to exploit the midfield because Germany is expected to be playing with a lone striker, therefore they would have 5 in the midfield. Expect to see Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger asserting their physical dominance in the midfield over the Americans.
The German National Team has no easy task in Brazil, but they are ready for the task. According to the Bleacher Report, Germany are the third favorites to win the World Cup, at 13/2 odds. With high expectations and a hard schedule, the Germans must be prepared to dig their feet in and grind out victories Group G.
