Will Muller inspire Germany to a fifth World Cup?
For Germany, Qatar 2022 offers new beginnings. The squad features plenty of young talent from all over Europe, including the likes of Jamal Musiala and Youssoufa Moukoko, among others, who will be hoping to impress in their first World Cup. There has also been a change of manager this time around with Hansi Flick taking charge of his first major tournament as head coach after Jogi Loew had overseen proceedings for 15 years, spanning three World Cups.
But for Thomas Muller, this tournament potentially offers one last opportunity. Though a World Cup winner in 2014, Muller and the rest of Germany will have been disappointed in the way the team failed to defend their crown four years ago. With only one win and two goals to their name, Germany finished bottom of their group against arguably winnable opposition, crashing out of the World Cup and continuing a dreaded curse, which now spans the last three winners, who have all gone out in the group stage of the tournament that follows.
For Muller also, 2018 was an forgettable one, as he was unable to score, failing to add to his 10 previous World Cup goals, with his fellow countrymen Miroslav Klose’s record of 16 goals surely in his sights. At the age of 33, this will likely be a last World Cup for Muller, as well as number of other notable players, and he will be eager to bow out in the best way possible.
Germany arguably have a tougher group this time around, with 2010 winners Spain joined by Costa Rica and Wednesday's opponents Japan. This offers a great opportunity for what is a squad on the younger side, with an average age of just under 26.7 years of age though a level of experience will of course be needed, and that is where Muller comes in to lead from the front.
In 2018, Muller played out on the wing, and for the most part was ineffective, but with the injury sustained to Timo Werner, it is almost certain that Muller’s experience will be called upon to try and get the goals for the four-time winners as the focal point in attack.
Muller played as a false 9 during Germany’s 2014 winning campaign, scoring five goals, only one behind Golden Boot winner James Rodriguez, and so is more than capable of being the main man to lead the line.
It won’t be an easy task for Muller though. The Bayern Munich forward hasn’t featured for his club side since their Champions League group stage win over Barcelona at the end of October and in the Bundesliga, his last appearance was at the end of September, owing to a hip injury. In the games he has featured this season, he has only scored three goals across 15 appearances and his last goal for Germany came back in June in the Nations League. He only featured in four of his national side's 10 World Cup qualifying games, though he did score three goals in those four games.
He will be aided by the likes of club teammates Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane who have both claimed three assists each in the Bundesliga this season, as well as Musiala who has six, along with a number of energetic youngsters who can come off the bench to offer a threat.
Germany will look to hit teams on the counter-attack, making them a ruthless outfit on the break, which has seen them score a high volume of goals. In the qualifiers for the World Cup, they scored 36 goals; only England, with 39, scored more in the European section. If Muller is fully fit and able to rediscover some of his form from the 2014 World Cup, then he will be thrive as the lone striker.
Few have backed Germany to win the World Cup. The new generation coming through will look to disprove that and with the help of one of the golden generation, they might be able to repeat their 2014 feat.
