Nickname: Die Honamas

How they qualified: 2nd Place – 2021 Men’s EuroHockey Championship

Notable honours: 4x Olympic gold medallists (1972, 1992, 2008, 2012), 2x FIH Men’s World Cup winners (2002, 2006), 9x Champions Trophy winners (1986, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014), 8x European champions (1970, 1978, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2011, 2013)

Rank in previous WC editions: 1971 – 5th, 1973 – 3rd, 1975 – 3rd, 1978 – 4th, 1982 – 2nd, 1986 – 3rd, 1990 – 4th, 1994 – 4th, 1998 – 3rd, 2002 – 1st, 2006 – 1st, 2010 – 2nd, 2014 – 6th, 2018 – 5th.

With four Olympic gold medals, two World Cups and eight European titles, Germany have an enviable history in international hockey and, when at their best, few teams can live with them. Tactically astute and technically superb, Die Honamas have a habit for hitting form at Olympic Games and World Cups, something they will be hoping to repeat here in Odisha.

Although the squad had not been confirmed at the time of writing, there are numerous names that we hope to see in action at this FIH Men’s World Cup. Two Germany players were shortlisted for the FIH Hockey Stars Awards for 2022, with attacker Niklas Wellen gaining a nomination for the Best Player prize and goalkeeper Alexander Stadler nominated for the Best Goalkeeper award. They are far from being the only superstars in the Germany squad, with brilliant attacker Christopher Rühr, captain Mats Grambusch and penalty corner weapon Gonzalo Peillat – the man who fired Argentina to Olympic gold at Rio 2016 – just a handful of the world class players at the disposal of head coach Andre Henning.

One to watch: Christopher Rühr. A sensational attacker blessed with speed, skill, guile and supreme confidence. Named FIH Rising Star of the Year both in 2013 and 2015. If Rühr is on his game, Germany have every chance of claiming their first World Cup title since Mönchengladbach 2006.