An overwhelming majority of Germans do not believe that the Germany national team can win the World Cup next year, according to a survey conducted by market research institute Forsa and commissioned by Stern magazine.

Only 8% of the respondents believe that coach Julian Nagelsmann and his players can lead Germany to their fifth World Cup title at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Some 61% believe that Germany can at least reach the quarter-finals, while 18% think they can make it to the semi-finals and only 8% can see the team in the final.

In the previous two World Cup editions, Germany were eliminated in the group stage and 5% believe this will also be the case next year.

Germans in the East region of the country are particularly pessimistic: only 1% of them expect Germany to be world champions.

Those who describe themselves as interested in football are somewhat more optimistic: 13% of them believe Germany will win the title.

Source: dpa.com