Holders Germany are out to become the first side to defend the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Mario Gotze’s extra time goal against Argentina four years gave Joachim Low’s side their first Jules Rimet since 1990, securing their place as four-time winners and becoming the first European side to lift the trophy in South America.
2018 World Cup Qualification
As is so often the case, Germany absolutely cruised through qualifying with 10 wins, no draws and no losses.
Low’s men found the back of the net 43 times in total, including 15 strikes against minnows San Marino, and conceded just four goals in the process.
dabblebetSurprisingly, top scorers Thomas Muller and Sandro Wagner bagged only five goals each as 19 other players also found the net.
Tournament History
Germany have won the famous trophy in 1954, 1974, 1990 and in 2014, but their consistency is also remarkable.
The European outfit have also been runners up four times and finished third a further four times, including in 2006 and 2010 – making it 20 years since they placed outside the top three at a World Cup.
Of the 12 people who have netted 10 or more career World Cup goals, five are German – including all-time top scorer Miroslav Klose and 28-year-old Thomas Muller.
2018 World Cup Squad
| GK | DEF | MID | ST |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manuel Neuer | Jerome Boateng | Julian Brandt | Mario Gomez |
| Marc-Andre ter Stegen | Matthias Ginter | Julian Draxler | Thomas Muller |
| Kevin Trapp | Jonas Hector | Leon Goretzka | Marco Reus |
| Mats Hummels | Ilkay Gundogan | Timo Werner | |
| Joshua Kimmich | Sami Khedira | ||
| Marvin Plattenhardt | Toni Kroos | ||
| Antonio Rudiger | Mesut Ozil | ||
| Niklas Sule | Sebastian Rudy |
Latest World Cup odds
| Market | Price |
|---|---|
| To win the World Cup | 9/2 (5.50) |
| To make the World Cup final | 9/4 (3.25) |
| To win Group F | 4/11 (1.36) |
| To qualify from Group F | 1/16 (1.06) |
| To be the Top European team | 13/5 (3.60) |
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