Two of Europe’s top teams battle it out in Group E’s second round of matches at the Al Bayt Stadium with a capacity of 68,895.
Spain, beginning their World Cup campaign in a remarkable 7-0 demolition of Costa Rica on Wednesday meet Germany who are still recovering after they stunned by Japan on the same day in their opening match fixture.
The new generation of Spanish youngsters, led by veteran midfielder Sergio Busquets, will carry out his usual duties delivering pin-point passes across the pitch to capture the attention of the crowd and excite them.
The speed of 18-year-old Barcelona star Gavi matched with Dani Olmo and Ferran Torres out wide is just one lethal weapon in Luis Enrique’s armory for this game.
Enrique also has a star-studded squad in Yeremy Pino, Ansu Fati and Nico Williams and the more experienced Rodri, Marcos Llorente and Alvaro Morata to keep Spain buzzing. Together, they bring youth and experience to play.
Spain have lifted the World Cup once, and are among the favorites to do so again this year.
In spite of their imperious form, their opponents Germsnyare determined to put their defeat to Japan behind them as quickly as possible and regain their place among the elite football nations once again.
The current German squad also have veterans Thomas Muller and Ilkay Gundogan who at aged 33 and 32 respectively and rich with experience not excluding their skipper, Manuel Neuer. Its spine, meanwhile, is the Bayern Munich contingent who make up half the team, some of whom achieved Bundesliga and European glory with Hansi Flick before his appointment to lead the national team.
It is expected that Bayern Munich’s own wunderkind Jamal Musiala, who is 19 years old, will have a big impact on this tournament very soon. A player, who would be keenly watched out for his exceptional movements of popping up everywhere.
Apart from taking half the Munich team to Qatar, Flick has also brought Borussia Mönchengladbach’s mercurial midfielder Jonas Hofmann, whose versatility is key to Die Mannschaft’s plans for a reversal of fortunes. Behind them is Manuel Neuer, one of the world’s best goalkeepers – and in front of them is the talented Kai Havertz.
There is no doubt that the Germans are seeking to add another star to the German shirts after winning the World Cup four times. For them to regain their place among the greats of world football, they will have to put the disappointments of the 2018 World Cup and Euro 2020 behind them.
Against a Spanish team that just seems to have the desire to score goals for fun, will that be enough?