QATAR 2022: GERMANY HANDED TRICKY GROUP

Immediate past world champions Germany have been handed a tricky group after the draw for the World Cup 2022 tournament in Qatar was held on the first day of last month. The Germans won the World Cup title for the fourth time in their history at the 2014 edition in Brazil to draw level with Italy and move one behind Brazil who have won the most World Cup tournaments. The Brazilians have won five World Cup titles, but they have not been able to add to the five titles since beating Germany 2-0 in the 2002 World Cup final to win their fifth title.

For the World Cup 2022 tournament on Qatari soil, five-time winners Germany have been drawn in the same group alongside fellow former winners Spain, Asian nation Japan and the winner of the inter-confederation playoffs between New Zealand and Costa Rica. The Germans are in Group E for the World Cup 2022 tournament.

Germany won a fourth World Cup title by beating fellow former winners Argentina 1-0 at the end of extra time with Mario Gotze getting the only goal of the game.
The Germans qualified for the World Cup 2022 tournament by winning their group in the European section, while Group E opponents Spain also managed a similar feat in the same section. The 2010 World Cup champions were able to fend off Sweden to seal their place in Qatar. On the part of 2002 World Cup hosts Japan, they finished second behind Saudi Arabia in Group B as far as the third round of the Asian qualifiers for the Qatar 2022 World Cup tournament is concerned. The final spot in Group E would be filled by either New Zealand or Costa Rica. New Zealand won the Oceania region of the qualifiers to make the inter-confederation playoffs, while Costa Rica made the inter-confederation playoffs by finishing fourth in the third round of the World Cup 2022 qualifiers in the Concacaf region.