The 2010 world champions will meet the 2014 champions as Spain look to edge Germany out after just two games in Qatar.
This heavyweight showdown was a delicious prospect even before the tournament started, but Germany’s shock defeat to Japan upped the ante.
Spain beat Costa Rica 7-0 in their last game – which certainly scared the Germans.
Below are the predicted lineups for both teams based on the latest news leading up to the game.
MORE: How to watch Spain vs Germany? TV channel and live stream
Spain vs Germany lineups
Hansi Flick’s team simply cannot lose this game. The reaction back in Germany to consecutive group stage exits would be unthinkable.
“It feels like a first final at a World Cup for us,” Flick told journalists before the Spain game. “We’ll see a team that knows what’s at stake – a team that will do everything to give us a chance to reach the round of 16.”
Flick’s team is unlikely to see many changes, while Spain manager Luis Enrique is known for his tinkering.
“I usually don’t repeat penalties,” said the former Barcelona coach. “I’m not worried but there are still some positions I have to decide on.
“It shows the quality we have in our squad. I’ll wait for our last training session and sleep on it one more night.”
Spain forecasts from June 11
(4-3-3, from right to left): 23 Simon (GK) — 20 Carvajal, 3 Garcia, 24 Laporte, 18 Alba — 9 Gavi, 5 Busquets, 26 Pedri — 11 F. Torres, 7 Morata, 21 Olmo
- Hurt: Guillamon
- suspended: none
Alvaro Morata and Daniel Carvajal both missed the opening game after catching a cold that was reportedly attributed to the air conditioning at Spain’s hotel. They hope to start against Germany.
midfield player Rodri played against Costa Rica as a central defender. Enrique prefers to play Eric Garcia but the Barcelona star’s hamstring wobbles and consequent lack of playing time meant he missed out. If he is fit enough, Enrique will certainly risk him against Germany.
Germany expected from 11
(4-2-3-1, from right to left): 1. Neuer (GK) — 15. Column, 23. Schlotterbeck, 2. Rüdiger, 3. Raum — 6. Kimmich, 21. Gundogan — 19. Sane, 10. Gnabry, 14. Musiala – 7. Havertz
- Hurt: none
- suspended: none
Leroy Sane is an attacking option Flick will definitely have available against Spain, but the decision on whether to start will be made at the last minute.
Flick said of the winger’s condition: “We’ll have to wait and see how Leroy feels after the final training session. He will be able to participate, that’s good news.”
Sane tore a hamstring in October but recovered in time for Qatar selection. He was an unused substitute for the Japan troubles.
Together 👊#GER #FIFA World Cup pic.twitter.com/lHVcaCt1xB
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) November 25, 2022
Spain vs Germany World Cup Squad
Here are the names of Spain and Germany’s World Cup squads in Qatar (Caps correct at start of Qatar 2022):
Spain
| position | no | player | association | Age | caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC | 13 | David Raya | Brentford (ENG) | 27 | 2 |
| GC | 1 | Robert Sanchez | Brighton | 24 | 2 |
| GC | 23 | Unai Simon | Athletic Bilbao (SPA) | 25 | 27 |
| DEF | 18 | Jordy Alba | Barcelona (Spain) | 33 | 87 |
| DEF | fifteen | Hugo Guillamon | Valencia (SPA) | 22 | 3 |
| DEF | 2 | Cesar Azpilicueta | Chelsea (GER) | 33 | 42 |
| DEF | 20 | Daniel Carvajal | Real Madrid (Spain) | 30 | 31 |
| DEF | 3 | Eric Garcia | Barcelona (Spain) | 21 | 19 |
| DEF | 14 | Alejandro Balde | Barcelona (Spain) | 19 | 0 |
| DEF | 24 | Aymeric Laporte | Manchester City (ENG) | 28 | 16 |
| DEF | 4 | Paul Torres | Villarreal (SPA) | 25 | 22 |
| MEDIUM | 5 | Sergio Busquets | Barcelona (Spain) | 36 | 146 |
| MEDIUM | 9 | Gavi | Barcelona (Spain) | 18 | 13 |
| MEDIUM | 8th | coke | Atlético Madrid (SPA) | 30 | 68 |
| MEDIUM | 6 | Marcos Llorente | Atlético Madrid (SPA) | 27 | 17 |
| MEDIUM | 26 | Pedri | Barcelona (Spain) | 19 | 14 |
| MEDIUM | 16 | Rodri | Manchester City (ENG) | 26 | 35 |
| MEDIUM | 19 | Carlo Soler | PSG (FRA) | 25 | 12 |
| FWD | 21 | Dani Olmo | RB Leipzig (GER) | 24 | 25 |
| FWD | 10 | Marco Asensio | Real Madrid (Spain) | 26 | 30 |
| FWD | 25 | Ansu Fati | Barcelona (Spain) | 19 | 5 |
| FWD | 7 | Alvaro Morata | Atlético Madrid (SPA) | 29 | 57 |
| FWD | 17 | Yeremi Pino | Villarreal (SPA) | 20 | 7 |
| FWD | 11 | Ferran Torres | Barcelona (Spain) | 22 | 31 |
| FWD | 12 | Niko Williams | Athletic Bilbao (SPA) | 20 | 3 |
| FWD | 22 | Pablo Sarabia | Paris Saint Germain (FRA) | 30 | 25 |
Germany
| position | no | player | association | Age | caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GC | 1 | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich (GER) | 36 | 114 |
| GC | 22 | Marc-André ter Stegen | Barcelona (Spain) | 30 | 30 |
| GC | 12 | Kevin Trap | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 32 | 6 |
| DEF | 25 | Armel Bella Kochap | Southampton | 20 | 2 |
| DEF | 4 | Matthew Ginter | SC Freiburg (GER) | 28 | 47 |
| DEF | 20 | Christian Gunter | Friborg (GER) | 29 | 7 |
| DEF | 5 | Thilo Kehrer | West Ham | 26 | 23 |
| DEF | 16 | Luke Klosterman | RB Leipzig (GER) | 26 | 19 |
| DEF | 3 | David Raum | RB Leipzig (GER) | 24 | 12 |
| DEF | 2 | Antonio Rudiger | Real Madrid (Spain) | 29 | 54 |
| DEF | 23 | Nico Schlotterbeck | Borussia Dortmund (DE) | 22 | 6 |
| DEF | fifteen | Niklas Sule | Borussia Dortmund (DE) | 27 | 42 |
| MEDIUM | 17 | Julius Brandt | Borussia Dortmund (DE) | 26 | 39 |
| MEDIUM | 8th | Leon Goretzka | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 44 |
| MEDIUM | 21 | Ilkay Gundogan | Manchester City (ENG) | 31 | 63 |
| MEDIUM | 11 | Mario Götze | Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) | 30 | 63 |
| MEDIUM | 18 | Jonas Hofmann | B. Moenchengladbach (GER) | 30 | 17 |
| MEDIUM | 6 | Joshua Kimmich | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 71 |
| MEDIUM | 14 | Jamal Musiala | Bayern Munich (GER) | 19 | 17 |
| MEDIUM | 13 | Thomas Müller | Bayern Munich (GER) | 33 | 118 |
| MEDIUM | 19 | Leroy Sane | Bayern Munich (GER) | 26 | 48 |
| Forward | 26 | Youssoufa Moukoko | Borussia Dortmund (DE) | 17 | 1 |
| Forward | 24 | Karim Adeyemi | Borussia Dortmund (DE) | 20 | 4 |
| Forward | 9 | Nicholas Vollkrug | Werder Bremen (DE) | 29 | 1 |
| Forward | 10 | Serge Gnabry | Bayern Munich (GER) | 27 | 36 |
| Forward | 7 | Kai Havertz | Chelsea (GER) | 23 | 31 |
