Youssoufa Moukoko is keen to commit his future to Borussia Dortmund by signing a new contract after making his World Cup debut for Germany.

Moukoko has scored a team-high six Bundesliga goals this season, making 14 appearances for BVB – eight of them from the start – during a breakthrough campaign.

However, the forward's contract with Dortmund expires at the end of the season, and interest in him is likely to increase after he became the youngest German player to make a World Cup appearance in Wednesday's surprise defeat to Japan (aged 18 years and three days).

Moukoko's second-half introduction also made him the youngest player to make a World Cup appearance overall since Nigeria's Femi Opabunmi against England in 2002 (aged 17 years, 101 days).

Despite speculation linking him with a move, Moukoko has outlined his desire to pen a new deal with Edin Terzic's men, telling RND: "I get the confidence of the coach, Edin is like a father to me. 

"I feel very comfortable in Dortmund, I know the environment, my friends are there. 

"I love the club, the fans love me, I hope. Not everyone can say that about themselves. I would really like to stay in Dortmund, I have everything there."

However, the absence of Sebastien Haller – who has undergone treatment after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in July – may have contributed to Moukoko's increased involvement, and the teenager wants to be certain of his place in Dortmund's long-term plans. 

"You will see what that means for me. I want to know exactly what the club intends to do with me in the future," he added.

"I want to develop further and without games, I just can't develop. I don't want my development to stop again. I think that's quite normal because that perspective is important to me."

Roberto Martinez will expect a vast improvement from his Belgium side when they go in search of a record-breaking World Cup win over Morocco on Sunday.

The Red Devils were fortunate to beat Canada 1-0 in their first match of the tournament on Wednesday courtesy of a clinical finish from Michy Batshuayi.

Canada were the better side and Alphonso Davies had a penalty saved by Thibaut Courtois before Batshuayi secured all three points.

Belgium looked shaky at the back and got away with a lacklustre performance, Canada failing to find the back of the net with 22 attempts in the opening match of only their second World Cup.

But if Belgium beat Morocco, they will become the first team in World Cup history to win nine consecutive group games.

Morocco held Croatia to a goalless draw in their first Group F match and are plotting to spring a surprise at Al Thumama Stadium this weekend.

The Atlas Lions have injury concerns over Achraf Hakimi and Noussair Mazraoui for the encounter in Doha.

Belgium striker Romelu Lukaku has been back in training as he works his way back from a thigh injury, with head coach Martinez having stated no timeframe has been set on when he might return

Kevin De Bruyne says even if the Red Devils' all-time record goalscorer is only able to take his place on the bench, that would give the squad a lift.

The inspirational midfielder said: "I don’t know how he is, he has been training with us and also apart these days.

"I must admit that he is a player who helps the team a lot, you can feel his presence on the pitch. 

"I don't even know if he will be there against Morocco, but if he were to start from the bench he would be an extra weapon in the game."

Belgium are unbeaten in their four World Cup meetings with African teams and came out on top when the two nations met at the 1994 showpiece, Marc Degryse scoring the only goal of the game.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Belgium - Michy Batshuayi

In the absence of Lukaku, Batshuayi stepped up to get Belgium off to a winning start as they rode their luck in midweek.

He had five of Belgium’s nine shots and was the only player to register an attempt on goal for the Red Devils before being replaced in the 78th minute.

If Belgium can exert more control on the game, Batshuayi is capable of rewarding them as he should be full of confidence after his decisive strike.

Morocco - Hakim Ziyech

A lack of goals has been a big issue for Morocco in World Cup matches, with the stalemate versus Croatia being the ninth time in 17 games they have failed to find the back of the net.

Hakim Ziyech is one of the players who is capable of getting them firing in Qatar, where he had two shots and created as many chances against Croatia.

The Chelsea winger has shown he can has the quality to produce moments of magic with his wand of a left foot, which Belgium will be wary of.

PREDICTION

Belgium will be expected to make it two wins out of two despite an uninspiring start.

According to Stats Perform's AI model, Martinez's men have a 48.7 per cent chance of securing a record-breaking victory.

Morocco will have seen weaknesses to exploit in that Belgium display against the Canadians and they are rated as having a 26 per cent chance of pulling off a shock victory, with the draw at 25.3 per cent.

Christophe Galtier believes success in the Champions League should not define his ongoing project at Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG have been dominant force in France over the past decade, winning eight Ligue 1 titles while also capturing the Coupe de France and Coupe de la Ligue on six occasions.

But the coveted Champions League crown has continued to elude Parisian giants, who came closest to landing it when they lost 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the 2020 final.

PSG will face Bayern once more in the last 16 of this season's competition, but head coach Galtier thinks his future at the club should not depend on their performances in Europe.

"There are 10 teams that every season aim to win the Champions League, and only one achieves it," he told Marca. "And then, the other nine who have not succeeded, do we have to fire their coaches? No.

"It's very difficult to win the Champions League. I'm not looking to protect myself, but the big European clubs have this goal and don't change everything because they don't win it.

"There are several examples. Atletico [Madrid] reached the final twice and when they did not win, the club continued to believe in [Diego] Simeone and his sporting project. The same goes for Pep Guardiola. [Manchester City] haven't won yet, but the club still believes in their ideas.

"I think it would be a mistake to change PSG's sports project if the Champions League is not won. I think it's a process, obviously not a 10-year one, but what shouldn't be is that if we don't win this year, we change everything."

Despite being unbeaten in six matches, PSG only advanced to the knockout stages as group runners-up for a second successive season, as Benfica snatched top spot in Group H by virtue of scoring more away goals.

Galtier's side conceded seven goals - with only RB Leipzig (nine) and Eintracht Frankfurt (eight) shipping more against the teams that progressed to the last 16 - and the head coach insists they must tighten up to embark on a long run in the competition. 

"We have conceded too many in the Champions League," he added. "Obviously, there is a difference in level between the Champions League and our championship. But if we want to go far in the Champions League, we must improve our defensive level.

"Nothing is easy in the Champions League. In addition, no one in the analysis has taken into account the difficulty of the calendar this season. It is the first time in the history of football with such a compact and difficult calendar.

"Practically every week, there were Champions League games. I think that's why some teams that normally made it past the group stage haven't. We have played in three and a half months what we normally played in four or five months."

A first-half header from Mitch Duke was enough to see off Tunisia and ignite Australia's hopes of progressing to the World Cup knockout stages in a 1-0 victory.

Duke converted Craig Goodwin's left-wing cross in the 23rd minute with the Socceroos having to withstand some late pressure to secure a win that means they head into their final Group D clash with Denmark with all to play for.

Tunisia have a solitary point from their two games and will have to beat defending champions France on Wednesday and hope other results go their way.

Australia shaded a frantic opening but could not profit from a series of crosses into the Tunisia box.

Delivering the ball from wide areas was clearly a key part of the Australia strategy and it paid dividends midway through the first half. Duke started the move with a deft touch in midfield before racing into the box to cleverly glance Goodwin’s deflected cross past Tunisia goalkeeper Aymen Dahmen.

Tunisia grew as an attacking force as the first half progressed and could have levelled twice before the break.

After 41 minutes, robust play from Issam Jebali saw him pick out Mohamed Drager at the far post only for defender Harry Souttar to race across to block his goalbound shot.

The tireless Jebali then turned up on the right but his low centre was fired wide by captain Youssef Msakni.

Tunisia dominated possession in the second half but their desperation to find an equaliser almost saw them undone again after 71 minutes - substitute Jamie Maclaren escaping down the left before delivering a low cross that was inches in front of the sliding Mathew Leckie.

A second goal was not required in the end as Australia's resolute backline - in which Souttar was outstanding - did enough to keep Tunisia out and register just the Socceroos' second clean sheet in 18 World Cup matches.

Cristiano Ronaldo has been touted as a "total genius" for winning Portugal's controversial penalty in the 3-2 victory over Ghana in the World Cup by a FIFA member.

The 37-year-old tucked home Portugal's opening goal from the spot to become the first player to score in five separate World Cup tournaments, though the decision to award the penalty left Ghana furious.

However, a FIFA member has suggested that the awarding of the penalty was down to the play of Ronaldo, who was deemed to have been fouled by Ghana's Mohammed Salisu.

In a briefing in Doha, FIFA technical study group (TSG) member Sunday Oliseh declared forwards were "getting smarter" and believes it was Ronaldo's intelligence that led to the awarding of the spot-kick.

"Maybe the strikers are getting smarter?" he said, per the BBC.

"The Ronaldo penalty, people can say what they want about him, but the smartness to wait for that second, to touch the ball, continue his leg and then get the contact. That is total genius.

"Let's give strikers the compliment for getting smarter. VAR is also a major reason why this [more penalties being awarded] is happening. Referees can look at it three or four times."

Nine penalties have been awarded in the first 20 games of the World Cup, seven of which have been scored – the exceptions being Poland's Robert Lewandowski and Canada's Alphonso Davies.

That figure is on track to beat the total number of penalties at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where 20 were awarded across the 64 matches.

Christophe Galtier insisted Kylian Mbappe is happy at Paris Saint-Germain, though admitted Lionel Messi's future with the French giants is undecided.

Mbappe is the leading marksman in Ligue 1 this season with 12 goals – one ahead of team-mate Neymar – while Messi tops the assists chart with 10, having also found the net seven times.

The France international was heavily linked with a free transfer to Real Madrid last season, but eventually signed a new three-year deal with the reigning Ligue 1 champions in May.

Many believed financial gain played a significant factor in Mbappe's decision, while reports have also suggested the 23-year-old has recently been reconsidering whether he wants to remain at the club.

But Galtier told Marca: "I don't think it was the money, because world-class players – whether in Spain, England or France – win it. They are not for the money. I think Kylian just loves PSG. 

"If he's happy, why shouldn't Kylian be here next season? From the moment the player enjoys on the field and feels that he is in a team that can win and that can conquer great challenges, he has no reason to leave."

Asked if he felt Mbappe was happy at PSG, Galtier added: "Yes, sure. Guaranteed."

Meanwhile, Messi's existing contract is due to expire next June, although there is the option of extending his stay in the French capital for an additional year.

"There are many parameters," Galtier said when asked what it would take for the Argentina captain to remain at the club beyond this season. 

"The first thing is their desire. Do you want to continue at PSG? Are you happy here? The first thing to know is if he wants to continue. All these types of decisions are made between the player and [football advisor] Luis Campos."

Romelu Lukaku is on course to return to action before the end of the World Cup's group stage, according to Belgium boss Roberto Martinez, though he is unlikely to face Morocco on Sunday.

Lukaku was absent as Belgium overcame a lively Canada side 1-0 on Wednesday, having struggled with a thigh injury since returning to Inter on a season-long loan from Chelsea. 

Michy Batshuayi proved a capable deputy against Canada, scoring the winner and posting a team-high tally of five shots, but Belgium's record goalscorer is making good progress in his recovery.

While Martinez is determined not to rush Lukaku back, he views Thursday's final Group F fixture against Croatia as a realistic target for the 29-year-old's comeback.

"Medically, Romelu was only available for the third game and I think we'll carry on with that, but he's ahead of where he should be," Martinez said at Saturday's pre-match press conference.

"He's trained twice with the group and the signs are very good.

"We need to see how he reacts today and then he's going to have another training session. 

"I don't expect him to be involved tomorrow unless something goes extremely well today, and it'd be a little bit of adaptation to be with the group, [he would not be] 100 per cent at the start. That's where he is. 

"The lineup is important but there are two lineups in this World Cup. Five subs means you have a lineup at the start and a lineup at the end.

"What's important for me is that every player who comes on the pitch has an impact, an understanding and the opportunity to enjoy the World Cup. 

"In the first half against Canada we were very, very, very below par. The second half was an improvement, and it's important that we use our players to help the team depending on how our game goes. 

"If you ask me, the game tomorrow is about controlling and being able to be ourselves until the end. 

"Whoever's going to be on the pitch depends on the moment, how the players are [in training] and how I get the feeling the players are getting ready for the game."

Belgium will seal qualification for the round of 16 if they beat Morocco, and they are also bidding to become the first nation in history to win nine consecutive group games at the World Cup.

Eden Hazard accepts Belgium had a better chance of winning the World Cup when their 'golden generation' was at its peak in 2018.

Belgium enjoyed their best World Cup showing four years ago in Russia as they finished third following a 1-0 defeat to eventual winners France in the semi-finals.

But after then losing to Italy in the quarter-finals of Euro 2020, there is a perception Belgium's greatest generation of players has missed its chance of winning a major trophy.

While their squad in Qatar includes many familiar names and several members of the 'golden generation', it is widely accepted most of them are past their best, with the unconvincing 1-0 win over Canada doing little to disprove that notion.

Hazard, who himself is 31 and has had a nightmare with injuries while at Real Madrid over the past three years, is realistic about Belgium's chances, but was keen to remind critics that Roberto Martinez's team still have plenty in their arsenal.

"To be fair, I think we had a better chance four years ago," he told reporters ahead of Belgium's second Group F game against Morocco.

"The team was better four years ago, but we still have the quality to win games, win competitions.

"We have a few guys who are a bit older now but we have experience, we have the best goalkeeper [Thibaut Courtois] in the world, and like I said before, we have one of the best midfields in the world right now, we also have good strikers.

"We are a complete team and I think it's just [we need to show] the desire if we want to win, it's just mentality things.

"We have to enjoy moments, play our game, have fun on the pitch, try to win and then we'll see what happens."

Belgium were roundly criticised for their performance against Canada, particularly after being outplayed in the first half.

At the end of the game, Canada – who saw an Alphonso Davies penalty saved by Courtois – had accumulated 2.63 expected goals (xG) to Belgium's 0.77, highlighting just how much of a greater threat John Herdman's side carried.

One recurring theme from that match was apparent tension between De Bruyne and Toby Alderweireld, who were involved in on-pitch spats with each other at least twice.

De Bruyne explained after the game that his frustration stemmed from a belief Belgium – and Alderweireld – were looking for the long ball too often, but Martinez was quick to shut down any suggestion of there being a major problem between them.

"We shouldn't try to get an issue where there's no issue," he added. "You've got two experienced players, they've played – if I'm not wrong – over 70 games together for the national team.

"This is not a young player coming into the team, I think there's a real understanding as a team you need to find what the opponent gives you and at times you play through the lines with pressure, sometimes there's spaces in behind, making the right decisions, and when you do that it's important because you need to react as a team.

"There's no issue there, they're two players who are winners and they want to perform well and they take responsibility, as a team that's where we're working.

"We need to know when we're doing one aspect and when doing the other we do as a team, but it's not an issue at all."

Jamie Carragher was perplexed by Gareth Southgate's "strange" decision to leave "special talent" Phil Foden on the bench in England's goalless World Cup draw with the United States.

The Three Lions remain top of Group B and on the brink of qualifying for the round of 16 heading into a clash with Wales on Tuesday, but were fortunate to secure a point against USA at Al Bayt Stadium on Friday.

England were sluggish and were almost punished when Christian Pulisic rattled the crossbar in the first half after Weston McKennie wasted a good opportunity to open the scoring.

Southgate brought on Jordan Henderson, Jack Grealish and Marcus Rashford in the second half, but Manchester City attacking midfielder Foden was an unused substitute.

Former England defender Carragher cannot understand why Foden has not been included in the starting line-up or at least brought off the bench earlier, stating that City boss Pep Guardiola would turn to the 22-year-old ahead of Grealish.

He wrote in his column for The Telegraph: "I was among those hoping Gareth Southgate would turn to the Manchester City youngster. It was baffling that he remained on the bench when the game was crying out for his creativity.

"If you had told me before the tournament that Foden would only feature for 19 minutes of the first two World Cup games, my initial thought would be he must be injured.

"When asked to select my starting XI for the opening fixture against Iran, Foden was in it. The more the squad was studied, the harder it was to leave him out. He is too much of a special talent.

"Speak to any football supporter watching the Premier League over the last three years and ask 'who is the most naturally gifted English footballer today?' and 80 per cent would say Foden. The other 20 per cent are not watching closely enough.

"For Southgate to turn to his substitutes and opt for his City team-mate Jack Grealish ahead of him felt strange. Would Pep Guardiola look to Grealish before Foden if seeking a winning goal? Highly unlikely."

Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher added: "Foden has had plenty of opportunities for England, so it is not as if Southgate has ignored him. But although it is very early in his career, there have been times watching Foden playing for his country when his situation has reminded me of John Barnes in his heyday.

"For those too young to remember, between 1987-91, Barnes was not only the most talented England player of his generation, he was streets ahead of the rest.

"Think of Thierry Henry during his peak years at Arsenal. That is how good Barnes was for Liverpool. Yet for England, he was a shadow of himself.  

"The question was often asked whether the problem was Barnes or England. Surely it cannot be so difficult to accommodate a rare talent?

"It is imperative history does not repeat itself with Foden. Already, it is a shame he is not one of the first picks in the starting line-up, let alone the first go-to player from the bench.

"When Foden played in the last Euros you would have thought it certain he would be established in the side by now. Instead, others have jumped ahead of him.

"I really like Bukayo Saka and have no criticism about his selection given his Arsenal form. I also understand the loyalty to Raheem Sterling who has been one of the best players in the Southgate era.

"Over the last few days we have been rightly talking about Jude Bellingham a lot. But can it just be shrugged aside what Foden has been doing in the Premier League?

"To me, he eclipses those chosen ahead of him. I truly believe if he was Spanish he would be in their first XI."

Gavi and Pedri will emerge as leaders of a new generation for Spain, according to Lothar Matthaus, who is expecting a World Cup classic when La Roja take on Germany on Sunday.

The Barcelona youngsters starred as Spain began their campaign by hammering Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday, while Germany surrendered a half-time lead in a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan.

Should Die Nationalmannschaft slump to consecutive group-stage losses at a single World Cup for the first time on Sunday, it may be enough for them to replicate 2018's humiliating early exit.

With Gavi and Pedri pulling the strings for Spain and Germany having suffered an embarrassing 6-0 defeat when they last met La Roja two years ago in the Nations League, Matthaus is not overly confident.

Asked about the duo's potential impact against Germany, Matthaus told Marca: "They are going to lead this new generation and Luis Enrique is giving them a lot of confidence, and that is essential for them.

"La Roja always brings new values. If I go to the last game, I don't have a good feeling, but that is already past and tomorrow will be a new story. 

"They are the two favourites of the group, but Japan should not be neglected.

"We will have to fight for every metre of the pitch. I think the Germans respect Spain a lot, they have a great team. It will be one of the great matches of the tournament."

Having started just one of their previous 18 World Cup campaigns with a defeat, Germany have now done so at consecutive editions after losing to Mexico in Russia four years ago.

Having retired from international football after Germany's Euro 2020 exit against England, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos is absent from his country's squad at a World Cup for the first time since 2006.

With Kroos helping his club win LaLiga and the Champions League last season, some have highlighted his absence as a reason for Germany's struggles, but Matthaus disagrees.

"We have [Ilkay] Gundogan, [Joshua] Kimmich, [Jamal] Musiala. Kroos made the difference, and he continues to do so with Real Madrid," Matthaus said.

"He is a fantastic player, but he decided to leave the national team a few years ago and we have to respect that. In his position, we have [Manchester] City's captain Gundogan. 

"We have two Bayern Munich stars, Kimmich and [Leon] Goretzka, but they are different from Kroos. Toni did incredible things for German football, but we already have others."

Costa Rica coach Luis Fernando Suarez will be hoping his direct approach pays off when his side take on Japan on Sunday.

Spain thrashed Costa Rica 7-0 on Wednesday in one of the standout results of the World Cup's early games.

Costa Rica conceded as many goals in that match as they had across their previous eight games at the tournament combined. They also failed to have a single shot against Spain, just the second instance of a side failing to have an attempt on goal in a World Cup match since 1966, after Costa Rica themselves against Brazil in 1990.

Japan, meanwhile, shocked Germany by winning 2-1 in the other Group E game. 

Costa Rica have never beaten Japan, losing three of their four previous meetings.

Asked what his side needed to do to address their defeat against Spain, Suarez's message was simple.

He told reporters: "I'll have to be very direct – we did a lot wrong, we made mistakes, and I think we should all be very clear about what our mistakes have been, starting with myself, my tactical responsibility.

"When we've done all this, we have to forget about the result. It will be very difficult. But we do have players who are good enough to play differently.

"We have to improve a great deal. We need to take on that responsibility and the blame, but also the way to move on is by focusing on positive results and to forget about [the Spain] defeat."

Suarez did, feel, however, that even though his side underperformed against Spain the result was a harsh reflection of their display.

"Spain were the much better team. But this was one of those games where everything happened in a completely different way than what you'd expect," he added.

"Yes, they were much better, but not by a difference of seven goals."

After beating Germany, Japan are looking to win back-to-back World Cup matches for the first time since 2002 (v Russia and Tunisia), while they have never won both of their first two fixtures of a single edition at the finals.

Indeed, victory on Sunday for Japan could see them through to the last 16, should Germany fail to beat Spain.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Japan – Takuma Asano

Takuma Asano scored a brilliant winner against Germany, sealing a famous victory for Japan.

Asano had five of Japan's 12 shots in the match – no other player had more than one.

Only Shinji Kagawa has ever had more attempts in a single World Cup match for Japan (six vs Colombia in 2014).

Costa Rica – Keylor Navas

Keylor Navas has been one of Europe's best goalkeepers over much of the past decade, but he had a shocker against Spain.

The Paris Saint-Germain shot-stopper will be determined to right those wrongs and help Costa Rica claim a clean sheet as the basis for a win to keep their hopes alive.

He is one of three Costa Rica players who could make their 10th World Cup appearance, along with Celso Borges and Bryan Ruiz.

PREDICTION

Costa Rica's heavy defeat to Spain means they have been given just a 13.4 per cent chance of winning this game by Opta.

The likelihood of a Japan victory is rated at 66.6 per cent, with a 20 per cent chance of a draw.

Kevin Durant feels privileged to see LeBron James' exploits up close as the four-time NBA champion chases Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time points record.

James finished with 21 points on his return from an adductor injury in the Los Angeles Lakers' win over the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, as he inches closer to Abdul-Jabbar's NBA record of 38,387 points.

The 18-time All-Star is the NBA's second-highest scorer with 37,332 points to his name, and Durant is excited by the prospect of seeing the 37-year-old make history.

"To be the number one in anything, there's eight billion people in the world, we just figured that out last week, so to be the number one of all time at scoring the basketball, I'm sure it's going to be a range of emotions for him," Durant said on Friday.

"But to be in an era where we see this live is pretty cool as well. You probably can't even describe the emotions and feelings him and his family and his friends are going to go through, but it's cool to see it up close."

Durant sits 18th on the list with 26,110 points, putting him within 1,000 of six other players, but the 34-year-old is not thinking about his standing among the greatest to play the game.

"I never really thought of it," he said. "I heard the talks, especially early on in my career when I was doing stuff the LeBrons, the Michael Jordans have done in the league, as far as scoring.

"I know how tough it is to consistently do this year in and year out, day in and day out. A lot of stuff is out of your control. 

"But I just try to come in and be the best version of myself I can be, and whatever happens, happens."

Asked whether there was any particular player on the list he was aiming to beat, Durant added: "I never thought of it that way. 

"It's always about just keep adding, keep building up good days every day. Being consistent in who I am as a player, and seeing what happens at the end of the road. 

"I'm just grateful to get up and do something like this every day. Just keep adding to my skill and keep building my database for the game, I guess.

"That's what I look forward to every day. Whoever I pass and whatever records I break for myself, it is what it is. But I'm just trying to get up and be available, be the best I can every day."

Durant had a game-high 36 points as the Brooklyn Nets went down to a 128-117 loss against the Indiana Pacers.

The official line is that it doesn't matter. It's an irrelevance. In fact, why are we even talking about it?

"I don't think that it plays any role. It was two years ago," said Julian Brandt on Friday.

But Spain's 6-0 slicing and dicing of Germany in November 2020 looms large over Sunday's re-match at Al Bayt Stadium, however much any protagonists pretend to ignore its presence.

Germany's record defeat in a competitive international came in that Nations League contest played in Seville, and while Joachim Low hung on a little longer as coach, that was the night when his fate was as good as sealed.

So there's one thing that has changed since the humiliation at La Cartuja: Low has gone and Hansi Flick is pulling the strings for Germany, the former Bayern Munich boss entrusted with leading the team into the World Cup.

"We are in a different position now and have improved in a lot of areas – even if not everything is going smoothly," said Germany midfielder Brandt.

How's about that for understatement of the year?

Germany are positively reeling, on the brink of a second consecutive World Cup group-stage elimination after folding to a 2-1 defeat against Japan in their Group E opener.

Their hopes hinge, more than likely, on finding a way to beat Spain, a team who left scorched earth in their wake while crushing Costa Rica 7-0 on matchday one.

"At the end of the day, it is a chance to change the mood," reckoned Brandt. "A game like this can energise you a lot. The 6-0 doesn't play a part for any player."

To which one can only hold one's hands up and commend the focus of the modern-day player if they can genuinely freeze out memories of such dark nights.

Brandt was an unused substitute for that six-goal shellacking, so perhaps the scars genuinely have faded in his case.

As a bystander, he could hardly be held responsible, and Brandt was also a bench-warmer throughout Germany's capitulation against Japan, so he gets another free pass there.

Where is there accountability then? Perhaps German FA (DFB) technical director Oliver Bierhoff is the man to be looking at, having been in post for coming up to five years.

Bierhoff gave Low his backing after the Spain shambles two years ago, and bringing his involvement up to the present day, the former striker said Germany were "really, really angry" at themselves for folding against Japan.

The Euro 96 final match-winner described the upcoming Spain game as "the first final" for Germany at this World Cup.

He also told broadcaster ARD it was "a myth" the team needed to be friends and said "friction and conflict" could be positive.

So there might not be absolute love and harmony in the ranks, but Bierhoff insists Germany are fully focused on their mission.

"That's the most important thing," Bierhoff said, "that in the end, even though we are many different personalities and have different ideas, we all submit to one single goal: to play a successful World Cup."

Germany have never lost consecutive group games in a single edition of the World Cup, but this team doesn't let history stop them achieving firsts. After all, they had only lost their opening game at a World Cup once in their first 18 appearances at the finals, prior to 2018, but now they have surrendered openers at consecutive editions.

In World Cup games where Germany had scored at least once, they were unbeaten in 29 matches (W25 D4) before tossing away a first-half lead to hand over three points to Japan on Wednesday. Their last such defeat was the famous 2-1 quarter-final loss to Bulgaria at USA 94.

They've never lost three consecutive World Cup games, but their 2018 campaign ended with a painful defeat to South Korea, then came Japan, and now Spain stand in their way.

The good news for Germany is that Spain have not won their opening two games at a World Cup since 2006. In 2010, when they went on to lift the trophy, Spain lost to Switzerland in their opener, so mishaps can happen.

Rather more bleak for Flick and Co is that Germany have won just one their last seven games against Spain, a 1-0 friendly success in November 2014. They have drawn two and lost four in that span and have not beaten Spain in a competitive game since Euro 88, drawing two games and losing three.

Where should Germany look for positives?

Young midfielder Jamal Musiala has emerged in the two years since that dismal trip to Andalusia, but Germany sorely lack a world-class striker, the sort that might have put the Japan game to bed before the underdogs set about fighting back in the final quarter.

Arguably the same might be said of Spain, but Ferran Torres hit three in the 6-0 rout and netted twice against Costa Rica, so Germany must be watchful there.

Spain toppled Germany 1-0 in the 2010 World Cup semi-finals, the first and only time they have defeated the four-time champions in the tournament's history.

They have talent pouring through the ranks, with the likes of Pedri, Gavi and Dani Olmo impressing against the outclassed Costa Ricans, while Germany bring a familiar cast, star-studded but struggling to equal the sum of their parts.

After the Spain game in 2020, Flick, then with Bayern Munich, said of the national team: "I was disappointed with the way we played football. On the other hand, these things are possible in football, sometimes you get run over and, in the end, you have to draw the right conclusions."

He added: "But that's not my job."

Now, however, it emphatically is his job. Flick has to work out how to lift a group left shattered by Japan's comeback, while ignoring the elephant stomping around the room, trumpeting the message that the last time Germany encountered Spain, it went down as one of the national team's darkest days.

But it could get darker still. If Germany crumble again to La Roja, this time at the World Cup, prepare for a total eclipse of Die Mannschaft.