The secluded village of Eppan in the South Tirolean alps has been a hive of activity for the past week.
It’s here among the rolling hills and valleys of this German-speaking part of northern Italy that reigning world champions Germany have been preparing for “Operation Titelverteigidung” – Operation title Defence.
“Die Mannschaft” are aiming to become only the third team to successfully defend the World Cup after Italy (1934 & 1938) and Brazil (1958 & 1962), with Joachim Löw looking to become the first coach to achieve the feat since the Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo.
A provisional 27-man squad has travelled to South Tirol – and there have already been surprises. Germany’s hero of the Maracana, World Cup-winning goalscorer Mario Götze is not included, nor is his Borussia Dortmund teammate André Schürrle, who set up that goal in Rio de Janeiro.
Ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Austria, The Sportsman takes a look some of the main issues surrounding Germany’s preparations for Russia 2018.
Manuel Neuer
Considered by many to be the best goalkeeper in the world, Manuel Neuer hasn’t played for Bayern Munich since September after fracturing a metatarsal bone in his left foot for the third time.
His last international appearance came in a 2-0 win over Northern Ireland in October 2016 – but he will start against Austria, an acid test to prove his fitness.
Joachim Löw is notoriously loyal to his key players and his 2014 World Cup-winning goalkeeper is no exception. “If Manuel feels he can perform at 100%, he’ll be in Russia,” said the 58-year-old coach in South Tirol, where Neuer has played in two practice games against Germany’s U20s.
After playing 30 minutes in the first game as the first team won 7-1, Neuer was then switched to the youth team in order to expose him to more shots on goal. And it seemed to work, as the U20s restricted the seniors to a 2-0 win.
“He played for 70 minutes and was kept busy, but he made some good saves,” said Löw’s assistant coach Thomas Schneider. “You couldn’t tell that he’s been out for eight months,” added U20 coach Frank Kramer.
Marc-André ter Stegen
One person who probably isn’t quite as ecstatic about “Manu’s” return however is Marc-André ter Stegen. The 26-year-old has enjoyed the best season of his career with La Liga champions Barcelona and was a rock between the posts as Germany sailed through qualification with ten wins from ten.
Having kept goal as Germany won the Confederations Cup in Russia last summer, the former Borussia Mönchengladbach stopper, who has also impressed with his calm and articulate manner off the pitch, will certainly feel he deserves the number one jersey at the World Cup.
“Of course, Marc would love to play at the World Cup, no question,” said goalkeeping coach Andreas Köpke, adding that he and Löw have already discussed Neuer’s potential comeback with him. “Marc knows that we have a special situation with Manuel. He’s our captain and we won the World Cup with him in 2014. That’s why we’re doing all we can to get him 100% fit.”
Blow for Boateng
The central defensive partnership between Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng has been key to both Bayern Munich’s and Germany’s recent success but, after the latter hobbled off with a thigh injury in the Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, half of that partnership is in doubt.
Löw’s assistant coach Schneider is still “confident” that the 29-year-old defender will make it to Russia having taken part in two training sessions with the ball at “80% intensity.” Typically, the player himself rated his intensity levels at “closer to 90%.”
Should Boateng not make it, Germany could fall back on the same replacement as Bayern – Niklas Süle. The 22-year-old has impressed in his first season in Munich since moving from Hoffenheim and would prove a more than adequate replacement, as would Chelsea’s Antonio Rüdiger.
Werner the missing piece?
Despite a wealth of creative, attacking talent, it’s up front where Germany have arguably been at their weakest since their World Cup triumph, where an ageing Miroslav Klose scored his record-breaking 16th World Cup goal.
The semi-final exit at Euro 2016 was largely blamed on the lack of an out-an-out striker, with the role often being assigned to a struggling Thomas Müller. In Russia, responsibility for putting the ball in the net will fall to Timo Werner.
The 22-year-old Swabian presses high, runs deep and is clinical in front of goal, scoring 21 goals in each of the last two seasons as Red Bull Leipzig first took the Bundesliga by storm and then reached the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
Werner has understandably been given the nod ahead of the abrasive Sandro Wagner, who reacted badly to his omission from Löw’s provisional squad, accusing the head coach of picking favourites and yes-men and saying: “Clearly, my open and honest approach doesn’t go down well with the squad.”
Controversy
Germany’s build-up has not been without controversy either after Ilkay Gündogan and Mesut Özil were photographed with Turkish president Racep Tayyip Erdogan at an election campaign event in London.
The ill-advised photo shoot saw Gündogan present Erdogan with a Manchester City shirt on which he had written “With respect for my president” and prompted some calls for the pair, who have Turkish roots, to be omitted from the squad.
The leader of Germany’s Green Party, Cem Özdemir, who, like the players, also has Turkish roots, said: “The president of a German national team player is Frank-Walter Steinmeier, the chancellor is Angela Merkel, and the parliament sits in Berlin, not Ankara.”
But legendary striker Jürgen Klinsmann defended the pair, saying: “They are absolutely key players so there has to be some more tolerance. It would be different if they were fringe players.”
