After winning the 2014 World Cup with Mario G\u00f6tze\u2019s late goal against Argentina, Germany failed to advance past the group stage in 2018 and 2022. With the expansion to 48 teams in the group stage and 32 teams advancing to the knockout stages, it will be difficult for a top 10 team to be eliminated in the group stage. Difficult, but not impossible.<\/p>\n
In that incredible 2014 World Cup run, Bayern Munich legend Thomas M\u00fcller earned the Silver Ball for scoring five goals. If anyone knows what it takes to get it done on the biggest stage, it\u2019s the Raumdeuter.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt first glance, when you read the names of the opponents, advancing from the group is obviously a must,\u201d M\u00fcller told MagentaTV (via @iMiaSanMia<\/a>). \u201cWith Ivory Coast, we have the African champions, and with Ecuador, the runner-up in the South American qualifiers. I don\u2019t know much about Cura\u00e7ao. When you look at the overall situation, where the eight best third-placed teams out of twelve groups also advance, then advancing to the knockouts is once again a must.\u201d<\/p>\n The combination of Ecuador (23rd), Ivory Coast (42nd), and Cura\u00e7ao (82nd) represents a decent degree of difficulty, but Germany is the heavy favorite (-200) to win Group E.<\/p>\n