The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was filled with plenty of shockers. However, nothing was more shocking than the fact that 2014 winners Germany were eliminated at the group stages for the second straight edition of the tournament. They fell victory to the champion’s curse as losses to Mexico and South Korea saw them finish bottom of a relatively easy-looking group.
Four years on, there was hope that Die Manschaft would be revitalized. Once again, they would have an easy-looking group featuring Japan and lowly Costa Rica, but a defeat to the former and a draw with Spain in their first two games saw them teetering on the brink. The Japanese would then defeat the Spanish in their final group game, which eliminated Germany from the competition.
UEFA Euro 2024
This summer, Germany is hosting UEFA Euro 2024 and fans are hoping the tournament rejuvenates their fortunes, just as what happened when they hosted the 2006 World Cup. That year, they entered the tournament as rank outsiders off the back of a group stage exit at Euro 2004, but went on to reach the semifinals. This time around, Germany will be hoping to do the same and websites providing a welcome bonus to new customers, such as Bet365’s up to $150 bonus, fancy their chances. Bet365 have made them the third favorites for glory behind only England and back-to-back World Cup finalists France.
But if the Germans’ recent form is anything to go by, people shouldn’t be expecting them to pull up any trees.
Germany’s Recent Woes
Since their elimination from Qatar 2022, things have gone from bad to worse for Die Mannschaft. They have qualified for Euro 2024 as hosts, so rather than qualifiers have instead turned their attention to friendlies. However, even supposed non-competitive fixtures haven’t been able to alleviate the gray clouds hanging over Berlin. The Germans lost 3-2 to Belgium in just their second game removed from the World Cup, piling on further misery.
Germany drew 3-3 with Ukraine last summer before then losing 1-0 away at Poland days later. They then lost back-to-back home games against Colombia and Japan, the latter of which was a 4-1 drubbing that cost former manager Hansi Flick his job. Julian Nagelsmann has since taken over and it looked as though he may have turned a corner. However, in their two most recent fixtures last autumn, Germany again lost back-to-back games, firstly at home to Turkey and then away in Austria.
Nagelsmann’s side has just four months and two friendlies between them and the opener of Euro 2024, a game against Scotland on June 10th. It remains to be seen whether they can put the situation right and enter the tournament with some kind of form behind them.
