Germany must show their famous and feared virtues of the past to set the tone in their World Cup opener on Sunday against debutants Curaçao and beyond, defender Nico Schlotterbeck has urged.
"I am happy that the tournament is starting and we can show everyone how good we are," Schlotterbeck told reporters.
"We are a top-top-top team. Curaçao are a good team. Many players have been trained in the Netherlands. They can not be underestimated. But I still believe that we are the favourites and will win the match.
"There is no pressure, we are all looking forward to it. Believing in our strengths is the most important thing."
Overcoming past setbacks
A clear win in Houston, the bigger the better, would set the tone after Germany lost their openers 2018 against Mexico and 2022 against Japan en route to shameful group stage exits at both events.
Sporting director Rudi Völler, who was coach when Germany routed Saudi Arabia 8-0 in their 2002 opener en route to the final, said that a first win does not guarantee success "but at least brings a little peace" and "all are in good spirits in such a long tournament."
Curaçao are ranked 82nd in the world and are expected to be easier opponents than Ivory Coast and Ecuador, the other teams in the group.
German virtues
Schlotterbeck said that the team must show the virtues of the past that led Germany to four World Cup titles and eight finals.
"What we haven't had in a long time: German virtues on the pitch. We have discipline. We have passion. We have resilience," he said.
With these, "which used to set us apart in the past, we are really good and don't have to hide from anyone," he said. "We want to get out of the group and at best win it."
Give youth a chance
Schlotterbeck's confident statements will please coach Julian Nagelsmann, who has said that he and his staff are "ready to take risks."
This showed in recalling 40-year-old goalkeeper Manuel Neuer but also giving youth and tournament debutants key roles.
Nathaniel Brown has dethroned David Raum as left back and Aleksandar Pavlovic and Felix Nmecha have Nagelsmann's trust in the key area of defensive midfield.
Up front hopes are on a matured Kai Havertz and that the gifted pair of Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz click again to justify their "Wusiala" monicker.
'Brutally good team'
Whether the team is good enough to prevail in big matches in the knock-out stages, possibly against France or Brazil in the last 16, remains to be seen, but Schlotterbeck is confident.
"I see many players in our team who are talented and not thinking about how big a World Cup is. I also see many players at their peak. And I see two, three, four players who are playing their last World Cup. So we have a brutally good team," he insisted.
