MY ACCOUNT
Former Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer has backed Germany to win the World Cup in Qatar later this year due to Hansi Flick’s swift impression at the helm.
The 2014 winners became the third defending champion in a row to be eliminated at the group stages in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, following on from the previous early exits of Spain in 2014 and Italy in 2010.
Joachim Löw retained his managerial position, with his contract due to last until after the Qatar World Cup, but requested an early end to his spell last year and departed his position following the European Championships.
While Low’s 15-year stint in charge heralded success, a poor final year saw Germany smashed 6-0 by Spain in the Nations League before exiting Euro 2020 at the hands of England after a 2-0 defeat in the last 16 of the competition.
Flick took charge in September last year and led to an immediate improvement, becoming the first Germany boss in history to win their first six matches and comfortably securing qualification for this year’s World Cup.
A drubbing of Italy in the Nations League on Tuesday once again displayed Germany’s credentials and Schwarzer believes they’re the team to beat in November when the World Cup begins.
He said: “I think this World Cup, Germany with Hansi Flick at the helm, are genuine favourites and I say that Germany is generally always regarded as one of the teams that could go and do something.
“But they’re, for me, stood right up there with being a genuine favourite of winning this World Cup because they’ve got an amazing manager.
“Someone that’s got the belief and support of all the players and has changed the German national team literally overnight exactly like he did with Bayern Munich when he took over after Nico Kovac had a disastrous period at Bayern the season, and then go on to win everything that’s possibly there to win.
“I’ve got a feeling he’s able to do the same thing with Germany right now.”
