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DUSSELDORF, Germany — A year can bring significant change.
Twelve months prior, Germany faced a string of disappointing performances and appeared to be in for a tough time as the host of Euro 2024. Now, the team has reestablished itself among the elite in Europe, setting its sights on the 2026 World Cup set to take place in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
By the end of 2024, Germany expects to finish with 10 wins out of 15 matches. In contrast, in 2023, the team only secured three victories, suffering six defeats.
The sole loss this year occurred in the most critical match, against the future Euro 2024 champions, Spain, during the quarterfinals that extended into extra time on home turf. This defeat still stings for the players and fans alike.
Coach Julian Nagelsmann expressed his frustration during the last Nations League group game against Hungary, which ended in a 1-1 draw due to a handball penalty. His immediate reaction hinted at Germany’s previous match against Spain, where a similar handball incident was overlooked, causing frustration amongst the German squad.
The past year has seen a notable rise in the contributions of younger talents such as Florian Wirtz and Jamal Musiala. This dynamic duo, often referred to as “Wusiala,” is anticipated to play a prominent role in the 2026 World Cup. Wirtz netted six goals this year, making him joint-top scorer alongside Arsenal’s Kai Havertz, while Musiala contributed five goals.
“They are both already world-class at such a young age,” remarked Joachim Löw, who led Germany to victory in the 2014 World Cup, during a local broadcast.
Löw was the first to call up Musiala and Wirtz to the national team in 2021 when they were only 18 and 17 years old, respectively. He has been pleasantly surprised by their importance in Nagelsmann’s strategy.
“Both are incredibly creative, adept in one-on-ones, and pose significant threats in front of goal. Their development in the national team over the past couple of years has been immense,” Löw added. “It’s hard to imagine the national team lacking either of them due to their impact on the game.”
The squad has seen the departures of several veteran stars like Manuel Neuer, Toni Kroos, Ilkay Gündogan, and Thomas Müller after Euro 2024; however, Germany’s performance has remained strong.
Nonetheless, questions linger regarding the extent and sustainability of Germany’s improvement.
In the Nations League, Germany navigated a group featuring the Netherlands, Hungary, and Bosnia-Herzegovina, achieving some significant victories, including a resounding 7-0 win against Bosnia last week. However, the group stage may not have posed the toughest challenges.
With Neuer’s retirement from international football, Marc-André ter Stegen has stepped in as the top goalkeeper, yet he is still recuperating from a serious knee injury sustained in September. Additionally, West Ham’s Niclas Füllkrug, Nagelsmann’s preferred striker, has been absent since September due to an Achilles tendon injury, and he will be 33 by the time the World Cup arrives.
As the World Cup qualifiers approach, Germany will face a sterner test in the Nations League playoffs scheduled for March, with the quarterfinal opponent to be determined in a draw at UEFA headquarters on Friday. A yellow card in the match against Hungary means Bayer Leverkusen’s Wirtz will miss the first leg of the quarterfinals.
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