What a difference a year makes. Last November, Germany were preparing for two friendlies against England and France. Two draws meant that the Nationalmannschaft went through 2017 unbeaten, a record that would eventually end in a 0-1 friendly defeat against Brazil in early 2018 – a run of 22 matches without defeat, equalling Jupp Derwall’s all-time mark set as the coach of the West German team between 1979 and 1981.
