GERMANY POSITIVE ABOUT CHANGES

But four-time champs can't afford slip-ups against Japan and risk another early exit

Germany go into their World Cup Group E opener against Japan on Wednesday knowing that the match could potentially make or break their tournament hopes.

With 2010 champions Spain awaiting next, the Germans cannot afford any slip-up against the Japanese and risk a potential early exit again.

The four-time winners have arrived in Qatar with a new team following their 2018 group-stage shock elimination.

They have since changed their coach, a number of players and even dropped their official monicker Die Mannschaft.

Those four years since the Russian debacle - their earliest World Cup exit in more than 80 years have been far from successful.

They were relegated from the Nations League in 2018 before rule changes kept them alive in the competition,.

They subsequently crashed out of the delayed Euro 2020 in the round of 16.

But with new coach Hansi Flick, who won six titles with Bayern Munich before taking over in 2021, the Germans are hoping to make another deep run in the tournament they last won in 2014 in Brazil.