Germany go in search of equalling five-time world champions Brazil as record FIFA World Cup winners when they land in Qatar this winter, but who will be taking the field when their campaign gets underway and how will Hansi Flick be setting out his stall?

Following a two-year spell at Bayern Munich in which Flick collected two Bundesliga titles, DFB Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Champions League trophies, the 57-year-old took his country’s reins in August last year.

Typically, of a coach who led Bayern to an unprecedented sextuple, Flick took to international duty in fine fashion.

Predecessor Joachim Löw finished his tenure with two losses, a defeat and just one win as Germany exited the UEFA Euro 2020 championships at the last-16 stage to old foes England.

One of Flick’s first decisions was to immediately reinstate Thomas Müller to his side and the fresh face of a new coach saw the team hoover up eight successive victories. Now with 14 games under their belt, the former shopkeeper’s side still boast an impressive run of results (W9, D4, L1) and they again look a force to be reckoned with.

Watch: Tireless Thomas Müller

It shouldn’t come as a surprise when you consider that Flick served as Löw’s assistant when Germany claimed a fourth world title in 2014.

Since taking the big job, the national team have scored in 13 of those 14 matches and hit four or more goals on six occasions, including a 9-0 demolition of Liechtenstein as Germany made light work of qualification for Qatar.

Option 1

As was the case during his spell in the Bayern hotseat, Flick has settled on a 4-3-2-1 formation for all but one of his games in charge, instead opting for a 3-4-2-1 in the 1-1 draw with England in June.

Interestingly, versatile defender Thilo Kehrer has started most frequently under Flick, with the former Schalke man beginning on the right and left of Germany’s defence four times apiece and at centre-half in his three other starts.

He’s clearly a player trusted by his coach and his versatility will be a major asset in tournament football, but Kehrer is most likely to start from the bench when Germany are at full strength.

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Far more certain is the place of captain Manuel Neuer, who will again be his country’s No.1 going into what will be the 36-year-old’s fourth World Cup.

Neuer has started between the sticks in nine of Flick’s 14-game tenure, just behind clubmates Joshua Kimmich and Leroy Sane, as well as RB Leipzig frontman Timo Werner, in the ranks for most frequently in Flick’s starting XI.

Antonio Rüdiger has emerged as the first-choice pick at centre-back, leaving Borussia Dortmund duo Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle to jostle for the place alongside him, while Jonas Hofmann has been a regular selection at right-back, largely for his attacking instincts to provide extra width. On the opposite flank, Leipzig left-back David Raum is in pole position ahead of Robin Gosens and Christian Günter.

In front of them, Kimmich has been partnered in equal amounts by Leon Goretzka and Ilkay Gündogan, and it appears a straight shootout between the latter two as to who lines up alongside Bayern’s No. 6.

Flick’s tenure so far has suggested that Müller and Sane are fairly certain of starting berths, but there is such fierce competition for places that the attacking spots remain up in the air.

Former Bayer Leverkusen starlet Kai Havertz hasn’t yet nailed down a spot of his own but his ability to play anywhere in attack, coupled with the fact he is naturally left-footed, could help his cause.

Watch: The best of Manuel Neuer

Serge Gnabry scored four times in Flick’s first four matches but has started just two of Germany’s last nine.

Considering Gnabry’s previous success under Flick for club and country, as well as his record of a goal approximately every 125 minutes in international football, and his more natural ability to operate from the flanks, you would imagine he and Sane would line-up either side of Müller in an all-Bayern supporting cast.

If fellow Bayern attacker Jamal Musiala continues his fine early season form, however, he could well get the nod from Flick, although Gnabry’s greater experience is likely to be valued highly at the World Cup, with Musiala set for a role as an impact substitute.

Gnabry has also operated through the middle for his country, but it looks far more likely that Werner and Havertz will vie for the opportunity to lead the line. On current evidence, Werner’s movement off the ball and lighting pace look the better fit.

Watch: Timo Werner – RB Leipzig take II

Option 2

Germany’s strength in depth is remarkable, with world-class options in reserve at every station on the pitch.

Barcelona custodian Marc-Andre ter Stegen has filled in for Neuer when the captain hasn’t been present, and the long-standing back-up will surely be next in the pecking order in Qatar, his shot-stopping qualities and ability with the ball at his feet making him a reliable alternative.

With Hofmann having elbowed his way into the starting XI at right-back, West Ham’s Kehrer is next in line on the right of defence. The sheer number of times he has been picked by Flick indicating a place on the plane is virtually assured.

Flick named Süle as a guaranteed starter against England in the Nations League at the end of September in Rüdiger’s absence, indicating that he will be among the first XI at the World Cup. If the 57-year-old’s tenure at Bayern is anything to go by, he likes to keep a settled team and avoid too much rotation in terms of personnel and formation, so a Rüdiger-Süle axis looks to be Germany’s centre-back duo in November.

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Consequently, Schlotterbeck is first in line as a replacement, alongside Freiburg’s Matthias Ginter, whom Flick recently praised for being “in very good shape”. At left-back, Gosens looks slightly ahead of Günter for the first reserve berth, although that could all change over the coming weeks with Gosens’ playing time limited at Inter, while Günter continues to shine for Freiburg in the Bundesliga and Europa League.

Goretzka has struggled with injury in the early part of 2022/23 but is a high-calibre alternative for central midfield, with Wolfsburg’s Maximilian Arnold a reliable option – and a left-footer to boot, although he is slightly more defensive-minded.

Once again it is in the attacking third that Flick is really spoiled for choice. He singled out Musiala for praise ahead of the Nations League tie with England, hailing the 19-year-old’s development over the last couple of years.

“From the first time he trained with the first team at Bayern you could see how talented he was,” the tactician said. “His progress has been great and he is brilliant in tight spaces. He’s got a good feeling for space and is a really good dribbler. He’s very good defensively and wins a lot of balls for us. I’m happy he plays for Germany.”

Watch: All of Musiala’s Bundesliga goals so far in 2022/23

Musiala has usually been the first attacking substitute under Flick, although Kai Havertz and Marco Reus will likely have something to say about that in Qatar. The latter, in particular, will be raring to go as he is currently on the sidelines for a few weeks with an injury sustained against Schalke on Matchday 7. And we all remember how he missed the 2014 triumph due to an injury right before heading to Brazil.

Lukas Nmecha offers a different threat to Werner up front. Whereas the Leipzig forward is a blur of pace and movement, his Wolfsburg counterpart brings greater physicality at 6’1” and is equally lethal with either foot: last season he scored three with his left, three with his right and two headers for the Wolves.

Option 3

As mentioned earlier, Flick has only employed a 3-4-2-1 formation once in his 14 games at the helm, but he is a pragmatist unafraid to change if necessary.

In this variation, Schlotterbeck’s composure in possession and ability to play accurate, raking diagonal balls from the back would fast-track him into the starting XI. Hofmann and Raum would be given license to explore the final third of the pitch, albeit with the brief to stay wide and drag deep-lying opposition defenders out of position in the absence of a more traditional winger like Sane or Gnabry.

Gündogan would play higher up than Kimmich to overload the centre alongside Müller and Musiala, who probe on the edge of the area looking for gaps to exploit Werner’s speed.

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Option 4

All of which leaves us with a purely hypothetical fourth option. Injuries to any of the above would open the door to a number of squad regulars, who could form an imposing side in their own right.

Kevin Trapp’s star rose in the wake of Eintracht Frankfurt’s Europa League triumph in May, Lukas Klostermann and Jonathan Tah have plenty of experience at the highest level for Leipzig and Leverkusen respectively, while former Bochum defender Armel Bella-Kotchap has impressed since his summer move to Southampton and recently received his first senior call-up.

Further forward in central midfield, Florian Neuhaus and Anton Stach are experienced Bundesliga pros, if slightly green at international level, while the likes of Julian Brandt, Julian Draxler and Karim Adeyemi would normally be the first names on the teamsheet in almost any other national side.

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For Flick the only remaining question would be who to take as a third striker? Niclas Füllkrug has been consistently good for Werder Bremen over the past 18 months and is currently the leading German scorer in the Bundesliga. His aerial threat should not be overlooked, particularly if the side are chasing the game late on.

It is perhaps a coin toss between him and Dortmund teenager Youssoufa Moukoko. While still raw, he has pace to burn and former BVB teammate Erling Haaland once even claimed he was better than him at the same age. He would be familiar with the Dortmund contingent already in the squad but a handy wildcard to have nonetheless: attacking players with the ability to produce a moment of magic from nothing are highly prized commodities.