The duel between the Spaniards, world champions 2010, and the Germans, titled in 2014, scheduled for Sunday, November 27, will be one of the posters of the group stage.
For the first time in its post-World War II history, Germany missed the quarter-finals of a major tournament (World Cup or European Championship) twice in a row, eliminated four years ago and a half from the group stage of the Russian World Cup and in 8th by England 18 months ago at the Euro.
After this twilight end of the golden era of Joachim Löw - with systematic presence in the semi-finals of each tournament before 2018 and a title in 2014 in Brazil -, Germany regained some of its brilliance under the orders of Hansi Flick, undefeated in the first thirteen matches.
But the end of the Nations League group stage at the end of September revealed serious defensive shortcomings and recurring problems in finishing.
The Germans thus missed the qualification for the Final 4 of the European competition which was reaching out to them, a ticket that Spain hardly won in another group.
After the years of stability under Vicente del Bosque (2008-2016), crowned with success (2010 world champion, 2012 European champion) La Roja has chained psychodramas in recent years, from the ousting of Julen Lopetegui just before the start of the Mondial-2018 to the recall of Luis Enrique in November 2019.
For three years, Spain has rebuilt to reach the semi-finals of the Euro in 2021 - beaten by Italy on penalties - then the final of the League of Nations 2020/21 (defeat against France ) few weeks later.
The Germans still remember the 6-0 inflicted by the Spaniards in a friendly in November 2020 and will want to take their revenge.
Behind the two behemoths, Japan and Costa Rica will try to play spoilsport, as did the teammates of the Paris SG goalkeeper, Keylor Navas, who rose to everyone's surprise in the quarterfinals of the 2014 World Cup , beaten on penalties by the Netherlands.
© 2022 AFP