Germany become the first team to qualify for the 2022 World Cup

Goals from Havertz, Werner and Musiala were enough to do the job.

There is one country more successful than Germany at the FIFA World Cup - Brazil. Die Mannschaft have won the FIFA World Cup four times, one shy of Brazil. Germany have been to every organized World Cup bar two - in 1930 (the first edition) they didn’t enter and in 1950 (they were banned from contesting). That is undoubtedly an enviable record.

Qualification for the World Cup has never been a problem for Die Mannschaft as they mostly steamroll through every opposition. Once again, the German flag will fly at next year’s tournament as they have qualified for the event with two games to spare.

On Monday night, the Germans made short work of North Macedonia with Kai Harvetz, Timo Werner (a brace) and Jamal Musiala netting to give the Germans a 4-0 victory. This win with Romania’s win over Armenia punched Germany’s ticket to Qatar. Germany thus becomes the first country to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, taking place in Qatar next year.

As expected, bookmakers will have them as one of the favourites to win the competition.

The qualification process

Ahead of the Macedonia game, Germany knew a win for them, and Armenia’s failure to pick maximum points against Romania was enough to qualify. They did the business and can now focus on the next phase of their plan.

Germany found itself in a relatively easy group comprising Romania, Armenia, North Macedonia, Iceland and Liechtenstein. As expected, the four-time World Cup winners were expected to make short work of the opposition, which they did. Die Mannschaft won seven of the group stage matches it played, its only loss at the hands of North Macedonia - a 1-2 home defeat in March.

Perhaps, it was that defeat that put Germany in a buoyant mood. They were eager to avenge that defeat, and they did it in grand style, putting four past the hapless Macedonians.

Germany’s target

Qualifying for the World Cup has never been a problem for Germany. Die Mannschaft has always been business-like, qualifying before they run through their course of matches.

The team has been on a rebuilding course since the insipid performance at the last World Cup. They were also limp at EURO 2020, but there is ample time to gel the team into one piece.

The big question now is, can Die Mannschaft go on to equal the Brazilian record of five World Cup wins? They certainly have the squad, but it is still one hard road to the Qatar final. Hansi Flick will have to find answers to the German question.

The only other qualified team for the World Cup is the hosts, who have been playing a spate of friendlies that runs in tandem with teams playing for qualification in UEFA group A.

More sides are expected to book their places in Qatar by November. As per the FIFA website, the competition will start 405 days from now (November 21st, 2022).