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.
"We want to develop a team spirit there that will carry us through the tournamentand for as long as possible." 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. Ten members of the 2018 title-winning squad are in the squad, including captain Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappe and Antoine Griezmann.
"We want to show how big Wales as a nation can be and show how good we are," defender Ethan Ampadu told reporters at the team base.