Four-time winners Germany arrived at the
World Cup in Qatar on Thursday
after Argentina superstar Lionel Messi touched down to launch his final
bid to win football's biggest prize.
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After a 1-0 win in a low-key warmup game against Oman the night before, the
Germans, led by captain and goalkeeper Manuel Meuer, flew into Doha.
Germany are aiming to erase the nightmare of the 2018 tournament in Russia
when they crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage after winning it four
years earlier.
Team official Oliver Bierhoff explained why they had opted for the seclusion
of a hotel in Al-Ruwais, an hour and half from the capital.
"We want to develop a team spirit there that will carry us through the
tournament -- and for as long as possible."
Messi landed with the Argentina squad in the early hours of the morning from
Abu Dhabi where he scored in a straightforward 5-0 win against the United Arab
Emirates in front of 36,000 spectators on Wednesday.
It was his 91st international goal for the 1978 and 1986 World Cup winners
who extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches.
The tournament is likely to be the final chance for 35-year-old Messi
to emulate fellow Argentine great Diego Maradona in leading his country to
World Cup glory.
The South Americans begin their campaign on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia in
Group C, which also includes Mexico and Poland.
France arrived in Doha on Wednesday, seeking to become the first team to
retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Ten members of the 2018 title-winning squad are in the squad, including
captain Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
But the defending champions, grouped with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia,
are without first-choice midfield pair Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante.
Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who has missed a series of games for Real
Madrid this season because of injury, is set for his first World Cup
appearance since 2014.
After a 1-0 win in a low-key warmup game against Oman the night before, the
Germans, led by captain and goalkeeper Manuel Meuer, flew into Doha.
Germany are aiming to erase the nightmare of the 2018 tournament in Russia
when they crashed out of the World Cup in the group stage after winning it four
years earlier.
Team official Oliver Bierhoff explained why they had opted for the seclusion
of a hotel in Al-Ruwais, an hour and half from the capital.
"We want to develop a team spirit there that will carry us through the
tournament -- and for as long as possible."
Messi landed with the Argentina squad in the early hours of the morning from
Abu Dhabi where he scored in a straightforward 5-0 win against the United Arab
Emirates in front of 36,000 spectators on Wednesday.
It was his 91st international goal for the 1978 and 1986 World Cup winners
who extended their unbeaten run to 36 matches.
The tournament is likely to be the final chance for 35-year-old Messi
to emulate fellow Argentine great Diego Maradona in leading his country to
World Cup glory.
The South Americans begin their campaign on Tuesday against Saudi Arabia in
Group C, which also includes Mexico and Poland.
France arrived in Doha on Wednesday, seeking to become the first team to
retain the World Cup since Brazil in 1962.
Ten members of the 2018 title-winning squad are in the squad, including
captain Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
But the defending champions, grouped with Australia, Denmark and Tunisia,
are without first-choice midfield pair Paul Pogba and N'Golo Kante.
Ballon d'Or winner Karim Benzema, who has missed a series of games for Real
Madrid this season because of injury, is set for his first World Cup
appearance since 2014.
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