Spain vs Germany World Cup lineup, starting 11 for Group E match at Qatar 2022

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Euro 2020 Top 100 Leon Goretzka

The 2010 World Cup winners face the 2014 champions as Spain aim to send Germany packing after just two matches in Qatar. 

This heavyweight showdown was a mouth-watering prospect even before the tournament began, but Germany's shock defeat to Japan has raised the stakes. 

Spain routed Costa Rica 7-0 in their last match — surely striking fear into the Germans.

Below are the confirmed lineups for both teams.

MORE: How to watch Spain vs. Germany? TV channel and live stream

Spain vs Germany lineups

Hansi Flick's side simply must not lose this match. The reaction back in Germany to consecutive group-stages exits would be unthinkable.

"It feels like a first final for us at the World Cup," Flick told journalists ahead of the Spain game. "We will see a team who know what is at stake — a team that will do everything they can in order to make sure that we still have a chance of reaching the Round of 16."

Flick's team is unlikely to see many changes, while Spain coach Luis Enrique is known for his tinkering. 

"As a rule, I don't usually repeat 11s," the former Barcelona coach said. "I’m not worried, but there’s several positions I still have to decide.

"That shows the quality we have in our squad. I will wait for our final training session and sleep on it for one more night."

Spain starting 11

Spain (4-3-3, right to left): 23. Simon (GK) — 20. Carvajal, 16. Rodri, 24. Laporte, 18. Alba — 9. Gavi, 5. Busquets, 26. Pedri — 11. Torres, 10-Asensio, 21. Olmo

  • Injured: Guillamon
  • Suspended: None

Dani Carvajal missed the opening match after catching a cold, which was reportedly blamed on the air conditioning in Spain's hotel. The Real Madrid man comes in for Cesar Azpilicueta.

Midfielder Rodri played at centreback against Costa Rica and retains his place alongside Aymeric Laporte against a talent-stacked Germany forward line.

Germany starting 11

Germany (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Neuer (GK) — 5. Kehrer, 15. Sule, 2. Rudiger, 3. Raum — 6. Kimmich, 8. Goretzka, 21. Gundogan — 10. Gnabry, 13. Muller, 14. Musiala

  • Injured: None
  • Suspended: None

Leroy Sane is an attacking option Flick will be desperate to have at his disposal against Spain, but if he is involved it will once again be from the bench.

Speaking on the winger's condition, Flick said: "We need to wait and see how Leroy feels after the final training session. He will be able to take part, which is good news."

Sane tore his hamstring in October but managed to recover in time for selection for Qatar. He was an unused substitute for the Japan upset. 

Thilo Kehrer is in at right-back with Niklas Sule shifting inside to partner Antonio Rudiger. Bayern Munich's Leon Goretzka is in to bolster the midfield, while Thomas Muller is the pick ahead of Kai Havertz up front.

Spain vs Germany World Cup squads

Here are the names on Spain and Germany's World Cup squads in Qatar (caps correct to start of Qatar 2022):

Spain

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 13 David Raya Brentford (ENG) 27 2
GK 1 Robert Sanchez  Brighton (ENG) 24 2
GK 23 Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao (SPA) 25 27
DEF 18 Jordi Alba  Barcelona (SPA) 33 87
DEF 15 Hugo Guillamon Valencia (SPA) 22 3
DEF 2 Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea (ENG) 33 42
DEF 20 Dani Carvajal  Real Madrid (SPA) 30 31
DEF 3 Eric Garcia Barcelona (SPA) 21 19
DEF 14 Alejandro Balde Barcelona (SPA) 19 0
DEF 24 Aymeric Laporte Manchester City (ENG) 28 16
DEF 4 Pau Torres Villarreal (SPA) 25 22
MID 5 Sergio Busquets Barcelona (SPA) 36 146
MID 9 Gavi Barcelona (SPA) 18 13
MID 8 Koke Atletico Madrid (SPA) 30 68
MID 6 Marcos Llorente  Atletico Madrid (SPA)  27 17
MID 26 Pedri Barcelona (SPA) 19 14
MID 16 Rodri Manchester City (ENG) 26 35
MID 19 Carlos Soler PSG (FRA) 25 12
FWD 21 Dani Olmo RB Leipzig (GER) 24 25
FWD 10 Marco Asensio Real Madrid (SPA) 26 30
FWD 25 Ansu Fati Barcelona (SPA) 19 5
FWD 7 Alvaro Morata  Atletico Madrid (SPA) 29 57
FWD 17 Yeremi Pino Villarreal (SPA) 20 7
FWD 11 Ferran Torres Barcelona (SPA) 22 31
FWD 12 Nico Williams Athletic Bilbao (SPA) 20 3
FWD 22 Pablo Sarabia Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 30 25

Germany

Position No. Player Club Age Caps
GK 1 Manuel Neuer Bayern Munich (GER) 36 114
GK 22 Marc-Andre ter Stegen Barcelona (SPA) 30 30
GK 12 Kevin Trapp Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 32 6
DEF 25 Armel Bella-Kotchap Southampton (ENG) 20 2
DEF 4 Mattias Ginter SC Freiburg (GER) 28 47
DEF 20 Christian Gunter Freiburg (GER) 29 7
DEF 5 Thilo Kehrer West Ham (ENG) 26 23
DEF 16 Lukas Klostermann RB Leipzig (GER) 26 19
DEF 3 David Raum RB Leipzig (GER) 24 12
DEF 2 Antonio Rudiger Real Madrid (SPA) 29 54
DEF 23 Nico Schlotterbeck Borussia Dortmund (GER) 22 6
DEF 15 Niklas Sule Borussia Dortmund (GER) 27 42
MID 17 Julian Brandt Borussia Dortmund (GER) 26 39
MID 8 Leon Goretzka Bayern Munich (GER) 27 44
MID 21 Ilkay Gundogan Manchester City (ENG) 31 63
MID 11 Mario Gotze Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) 30 63
MID 18 Jonas Hofmann B. Monchengladbach (GER) 30 17
MID 6 Joshua Kimmich Bayern Munich (GER) 27 71
MID 14 Jamal Musiala Bayern Munich (GER) 19 17
MID 13 Thomas Muller Bayern Munich (GER) 33 118
MID 19 Leroy Sane Bayern Munich (GER) 26 48
Forward 26 Youssoufa Moukoko Borussia Dortmund (GER) 17 1
Forward 24 Karim Adeyemi Borussia Dortmund (GER) 20 4
Forward 9 Niclas Fullkrug Werder Bremen (GER) 29 1
Forward 10 Serge Gnabry Bayern Munich (GER) 27 36
Forward 7 Kai Havertz Chelsea (ENG) 23 31
Author(s)
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Toby Miles is a freelance content producer for The Sporting News.