Germany have always had a reputation as a dour and unexciting team who teutonically battle through games either winning with a workmanlike performance or on penalties, well all that changed after the World Cup of 2006 held on German soil, when Jurgen Klinnsmann's side turned stereotypes on their head and the whole nation seemed to really let themselves go and enjoy the experience. Under Joachim Loew Germany have developed a style of play that isn't as fluid as the Spanish team, but they have more direction and pace in attacking positions offering options which Spain can't match. They have easily the hardest group in the tournament playing Holland, Portugal and ...  Read the complete review

Nickname(s) Die Mannschaft (The Team) The European Giant Head coach Joachim Löw Captain Michael Ballack Most caps Lothar Matthäus (150) Top scorer Gerd Müller (68) The bloody Germans are there again, their sixth European Championship Final out of 13 attempts, the little Spaniards the only thing in their way from title number four. This is Spain's first journey past the Q/Fs for 24 years. There's just something deliciously arrogant and relentless about the Germans that you have to admire and they just know how to win these things. They have yet to fail to qualify for the World and Euros in their long history. And if they ...  Read the complete review

I'm sorry to say that it looks likely that Germany could win this tournament. They will surely emerge as strong favourites after knocking out Argentina, who for me were the best team pen to paper in this group. However, due to bad tactics and making bad substitution decisions, Argentina lost this game on penalties. They simply let Germany come at them after scoring the goal, the sort of tactics that Erikson did with England, its no wonder the coach has resiggned. Credit to Germany, who are prooving that they are a strong force, despite hosting the tournament had been writen off at the start of the tournament. Once again they managed to score all their ...  Read the complete review

Will Germany win the World Cup for the first time in their history? West Germany won the cup three times (1954, 1974 and 1990) but as the unified Germany they only reached the final in 2002 for the first time only to be beaten by Brazil. So in fact it is true to say that England have won the World Cup more times than Germany. As the host nation in this tournament they no doubt have some advantage. It was thirty-two years ago that West Germany became the fourth nation to win the cup on home soil. So far six nations have made the same achievement, the most recent being Argentina in 1978 and France in 1998. The present Germany team have not looked all ...  Read the complete review

Germany 1 England 5. A complete one-off. A freakish result even. Germany fielded their worst side in years. The national side is at crisis point. Really? As difficult as it may be to accomplish, let’s get back down to earth just for a second. For a team in supposed turmoil then what on earth are they still doing on top of the group table? If Rudi Voller’s side were at such a crossroads, a) how come they managed to beat England at Wembley in the first place, and b) how come they are still the realistic favourites to qualify for Korea2002 without the necessity of a play-off? It’s the usual story of a media witch-hunt and fickleness of the general ...  Read the complete review