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Zurich (dpa) - That looks like an easy path for the German national team on the way to the first winter World Cup in football history.

In qualifying for Qatar in 2022, the four-time world champion has to face Romania, EM quarter-finalist Iceland, North Macedonia, Armenia and Liechtenstein.

That was the result of the draw in Zurich.

Only the ten group winners will qualify directly for the World Cup, which will be held from November 21 to December 18, 2022 due to the great summer heat in the Persian Gulf.

The runners-up have to win three more European World Cup tickets in the playoffs with the two best, not yet qualified group winners from the Nations League.

The new competition starts in March of next year, the other games will be played in September (each with three game days) and in October and November (each with two game days).

The playoffs will take place in March 2022.

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A look at the other groups shows that Germany is spared higher hurdles.

In Group G, the Netherlands, Turkey and Norway are fighting for the ticket to Qatar.

England, Poland and Hungary meet in Group I.

World champion France, group opponent of the German selection at the European championships next year, will face Ukraine and Finland in group D.

The second German EM group opponent and reigning European champion Portugal will face Serbia and Ireland in group A.

Germany is the clear favorite in his group.

However, there are some warnings from the past.

In 2007 the DFB team won against Romania 3-1 in their last game so far.

However, a 1: 5 disgrace in Bucharest in April 2004 in a test match under team boss Rudi Völler is not well remembered.

Against Iceland, the four-time world champion had three wins - and one draw.

After that 0-0 win in Reykjavík in September 2003, Völler had labeled the critics as “gurus” in his famous cheese-crap speech.

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Germany met Armenia when they were eliminated from the 1998 World Cup.

There were two clear wins (4: 0, 5: 1), plus a 6: 1 in a test match before the European Championship in 2014. Underdog Liechtenstein came under the wheels of 1: 9 against Germany in 1996, and another 2: 8 four years later .

In qualifying for the 2010 World Cup, Germany won 4-0 and 6-0.

It is the first meeting against North Macedonia.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201207-99-606793 / 4

Information about the draw

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World Cup qualification

German Football Association

Events