After the qualifying final this week, the (European) starting field for the 2022 World Cup will be ready. Germany will definitely be in Qatar - what has been missing so far is anticipation.
Leaves are falling, and the first snowflakes in the mountains. Welcome to the cold, dark season of the year, which doesn't even brighten up if you think ahead for twelve months and imagine: Now a wonderful mug in the beer garden - in front of a big screen with World Cup matches. Of course only in the imagination, but the thought of public viewing in Advent helps to bring the upcoming madness back to mind: World Cup in Qatar, which has no football tradition, but a lot of money, a very special interpretation of human rights and even in the northern hemisphere -Winter a hell of a heat. Yes, it's true: In a year and eleven days, the highly controversial Desert World Cup will begin.
Of course: once the whistle has kicked off, the world's largest football event, many concerns take a back seat. It doesn't make sense, but it is human. Just like the striving of athletes to want to win tournaments even with corruption and gigantomania. Hansi Flick and Manuel Neuer casually trumpeted it: The declared goal of the renovated DFB selection is to “become world champions”. The team dares to do this and should have been amazed when they were confronted with the latest survey by the Yougov Institute. The sobering result: only three percent of those surveyed believe in world championship number five in Qatar. Okay, after all, only five percent believe that the German team will be knocked out in the preliminary round like 2018. The bottom line is that none of this helps to increase the anticipation of the desert World Cup.
Only three out of 100 fans trust the DFB-Elf to win the World Cup
Whereby: One should never overestimate such surveys.
In a year, with the tournament in front of you, the mood will change.
A certain optimism jumps late, but reliably on every World Cup move.
And there are also reasons that give hope for a positive sporting result: Flick's record start as national coach (five wins), the lightning qualification of his selection (before everyone else), the good form of Bayern, who more than ever form an axis - and the soulfulness of Neuer and Co. to be erased from the collective football memory in 2018.
Although qualifying opponents like Liechtenstein are not a benchmark, it can be predicted: Flick's team will present itself differently in 2022 than in the late Löw phase, also politically - this will be ensured by reflected professionals like Leon Goretzka, who support the core message of the Bayern Ultras, just a little more diplomatic.
One thing is for sure, 376 days before the opening game: Qatar will be different from anything we've experienced so far.
For us football fans too: mulled wine instead of beer, Advent wreath instead of big screen - it will be a memorable tournament in every respect.