Germany's disappointment at the 2018 FIFA World Cup forced a change within the national team, as manager Joachim Low opted to step away from the top job last year after Euro 2020.
Hansi Flick re-injected optimism into his squad ahead of the 2022 edition in Qatar, with Germany's World Cup record making them among the favourites.
Despite dropping out at the group stages in Russia four years ago, Germany have been one of the most consistent national sides in World Cup history, with a triumph in 2014, alongside two semifinals, and a runner-up spot, since 2002.
With a balanced squad, including an experienced core, and some of Europe's most exciting young players, Flick will be confident of repairing the damage of 2018, though late injuries to star players Timo Werner and Marco Reus have complicated matters.
WORLD CUP 2022 SELECTED SQUADS:
Australia | Argentina | Belgium | Brazil | Cameroon
Canada | Costa Rica | Croatia | Denmark | England
France | Germany | Ghana | Iran | Japan | Mexico
Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Senegal
Serbia | Spain | Switzerland | Uruguay | USA | Wales
𝐆𝐄𝐑𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐘 🇩🇪
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 10, 2022
Here it is - our 26-man squad for the 2022 @FIFAWorldCup in Qatar 🏆 pic.twitter.com/U3KGoU5lnz
Germany World Cup squad 2022
It was a case of big names missing out through injury as Flick announced his 26-man squad for the upcoming 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
For a while it had been known that Leipzig forward Werner would miss the showpiece event with an ankle injury but news of Dortmund's Reus also missing the tournament caused a sense of sadness amongst German ranks and supporters alike.
Wonder kid Florian Wirtz also missed out after failing to recover from injury in time and there was no place for decorated centre back Mats Hummels.
There is however a surprise inclusion in the form of midfielder Mario Gotze who hasn't played for the German national team since 2017.
The World Cup winning goalscorer in 2014 has enjoyed some exceptional form in recent seasons, at PSV, and now with Eintracht Frankfurt, and Flick views him as the perfect replacement for Reus.
| Position | No. | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GK | 1 | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich (GER) | 36 | 114 |
| GK | 22 | Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Barcelona (SPA) | 30 | 30 |
| GK | 12 | Kevin Trapp | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 32 | 6 |
| DEF | 25 | Armel Bella-Kotchap | Southampton (ENG) | 20 | 2 |
| DEF | 4 | Mattias Ginter | SC Freiburg (GER) | 28 | 47 |
| DEF | 20 | Christian Gunter | Freiburg (GER) | 29 | 7 |
| DEF | 5 | Thilo Kehrer | West Ham (ENG) | 26 | 23 |
| DEF | 16 | Lukas Klostermann | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 19 |
| DEF | 3 | David Raum | RB Leipzig (GER) | 24 | 12 |
| DEF | 2 | Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid (SPA) | 29 | 54 |
| DEF | 23 | Nico Schlotterbeck | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 22 | 6 |
| DEF | 15 | Niklas Sule | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 27 | 42 |
| MID | 17 | Julian Brandt | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 26 | 39 |
| MID | 8 | Leon Goretzka | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 44 |
| MID | 21 | Ilkay Gundogan | Manchester City (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
| MID | 11 | Mario Gotze | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 30 | 63 |
| MID | 18 | Jonas Hofmann | B. Monchengladbach (GER) | 30 | 17 |
| MID | 6 | Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 71 |
| MID | 14 | Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich (GER) | 19 | 17 |
| MID | 13 | Thomas Muller | Bayern Munich (GER) | 33 | 118 |
| MID | 19 | Leroy Sane | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 48 |
| Forward | 26 | Youssoufa Moukoko | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 17 | 1 |
| Forward | 24 | Karim Adeyemi | Borussia Dortmund (GER) | 20 | 4 |
| Forward | 9 | Niclas Fullkrug | Werder Bremen (GER) | 29 | 1 |
| Forward | 10 | Serge Gnabry | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 36 |
| Forward | 7 | Kai Havertz | Chelsea (ENG) | 23 | 31 |
Germany national team stars, strengths & weaknesses
Previous World Cup perceptions of Germany were shattered in Russia in 2018 when they bowed out at the group stage. Flick will be under some pressure to wipe that from the national footballing memory.
The likelihood is that of 2018 being a blip in Germany's World Cup record, with a minimum of a semifinal appearance in every other edition since the turn of the century.
Flick has a reputation as one of the best young coaches in the international game, but a Round of 16 exit at Euro 2021 did not do him justice.
Stars
The Bayern Munich duo of Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller look set for their final World Cup, but it is their Bavarian teammates who could hold the key for Flick in Qatar.
Joshua Kimmich's excellence as a midfield pivot is the basis on which Germany are built alongside the goals and creativity of Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane out wide.
Strengths
Antonio Rudiger will underpin the German defence as part of the Neuer-Kimmich-Muller spine and it will be an ability to control central areas that could be crucial for Flick.
Manchester City star Ilkay Gundogan will partner Kimmich in midfield with Leon Goretzka also drafted in if Germany need an extra body in midfield.
Weaknesses
Flick is likely to rotate between Muller and Chelsea star Kai Havertz as a false No. 9 in Qatar, but despite their respective ability to score important goals, they do not have the potency of a Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Robert Lewandowski as a lead attacker.
Timo Werner had regained his form at RB Leipzig this season, but the torn ankle ligament injury picked up on November 2 ruled him out of the tournament.
Germany World Cup group
Germany travel to Qatar with a FIFA rank of No.12 and they will be confident of making it out of Group E.
Their second group game against Spain on November 27, looks to be Flick's first major World Cup test, either side of facing Japan and Costa Rica.
World Cup Group E fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Germany 1, Japan 2 | 8 a.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Spain vs. Costa Rica | 11 a.m. | Al Thumama |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Japan vs. Costa Rica | 5 a.m. | Ahmad Bin Ali |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Spain vs. Germany | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
| Thurs, Dec. 1 | Japan vs. Spain | 2 p.m. | Khalifa Int'l |
| Thurs, Dec. 1 | Costa Rica vs. Germany | 2 p.m. | Al Bayt |
Can Germany replace players on World Cup roster?
Once the final 26-man roster is official, participating teams at the World Cup can only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of extraordinary circumstances.
According to the official tournament rules, "a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team's first match."
The team in question would need to submit a medical report to FIFA and if the world governing body determines "the injury or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the FIFA World Cup" then the replacement will be allowed.
The replacement player must come from the preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October.