Latest WC 2026 News - USA, Canada & Mexico

10.11.2017 20:00 National Team

England faced teams like Slovakia, Scotland or Slovenia in qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. Germany had to prevail against teams like Northern Ireland, Czech Republic or Norway: these are all respectable sides. However, whoever aims to reach the semi-finals at the World Cup will have to face stronger teams as well.

Both Germany and England completed World Cup qualification sovereignly: Germany won all ten matches; England also remained unbeaten with eight victories and two draws. Both teams thus lived up to their favorite status in their qualification group. And so it is only logical that Germany and England face each other immediately after direct qualification for the 2018 World Cup in order to get a good assessment just over half a year before the big tournament in Russia.

In the squad of the German national team ahead of the match against England there is a surprise and two promising returnees: That Marcel Halstenberg from RB Leipzig is called up to the national squad for the first time may be surprising. Ultimately, the nomination reflects the good performances of Leipzig in the past and current season. The renewed nomination of Timo Werner from Leipzig also appears logical. It is pleasing that Mario Götze and Ilkay Gündogan have made it back into the squad after more than a year away from the national team.

And otherwise? Much remains tried and tested. Since Manuel Neuer is still injured, Leno, ter Stegen and Trapp are nominated as goalkeepers. In defense, alongside Halstenberg there are also Boateng, Ginter, Hummels, Kimmich, Plattenhardt, Rüdiger and Süle. The hopes in the attacking department rest on Werner, Götze and Gündogan, as well as on Brandt, Can, Draxler, Khedira, Kroos, Özil, Rudy, Sane, Stindl, Wagner and Younes: A squad that is really worth seeing, with players from Bayern, Dortmund, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal, Paris St. Germain, Manchester United, Juventus Turin, Real Madrid, Ajax Amsterdam among others.

The match on November 10 is only the first real test for the German national team ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. On November 14 it's against France; in March the tests against Spain and Brazil are already confirmed.