Germany
Pedigree It is a curiosity of the draw that Germany should find itself in a group with Spain, given the parallels between the two. Like Spain, Germany followed up winning the World Cup, in 2014, with a scarring group stage exit four years later. Like Spain, Germany has responded by naming a squad shot through with young talent.
The Missing Germany’s unassuming, popular coach, Hansi Flick, might, in his gloomier moments, reflect that his resources have been thinned by injury more than most. Losing Timo Werner, Marco Reus and Florian Wirtz is a blow, but it means a chance for the likes of Karim Adeyemi and Youssoufa Moukoko, the Borussia Dortmund striker who turns 18 this month.
Key Question There is still a sense that Germany is trapped between two generations: the one represented by Thomas Müller, now well into his 30s, and the one represented by his heir for club and country, Jamal Musiala. Flick’s task is to build a team that can accentuate the best of both.
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