Germany have players low in spirits (8)
I believe the answer is:
downcast
'low in spirits' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'germany have players' is the wordplay.
'germany' becomes 'd' (international vehicle registration code).
'have' becomes 'own' ('own' can be a synonym of 'have').
'players' becomes 'cast' (I've seen this before**).
'd'+'own'+'cast'='DOWNCAST'
(Other definitions for downcast that I've seen before include "disheartened" , "Crestfallen" , "Dejected and discouraged" , "Feeling despondent" , "directed towards ground" .)