| Product: |
Germany National Football Team |
| Date: |
29/06/08 (118 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Good final tonight
Disadvantages: The Germans arent England in disguise
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 don't do well its very much see you in two years time pal. They are not scared of losing and so they just keep winning, although this is their first semi-final success in Europe since Euro96. But it's that irrational fear of them that seems to be their biggest plus. Their World Cup record is also pretty impressive too with three wins from seven finals. They are in the top three of the most successful international teams of all time. They are also one of only three teams to hold both the World and European Championship.
= = = The record in major tournaments = = =
-The European Championships-
1960 Did Not Enter
1964 Did Not Enter
1968 Did Not Qualify
1972 Champions
1976 Final
1980 Champions
1984 Rounds
1988 Semi-finals
1992 Final
1996 Champions
2000 Rounds
2004 Rounds
2008 Final
-The World Cup-
1930 Withdrew
1934 Third place
1938 Round
1950 Banned
1954 Champions
1958 Fourth place
1962 Quarter-finals
1966 Final
1970 Third place
1974 Champions
1978 Second Round
1982 Final
1986 Final
1990 Champions
1994 Quarter-finals
1998 Quarter-finals
2002 Final
2006 Third place
Part of their strength comes from consistency, only ten managers in their 100 years history, five of those in the last ten years as club management became more important to national team management. They just stick with the same players over and over again and if you look at their most capped players below you will recognize many of them. Germany can boast of having the first and only goalkeeper to win the Player of the Tournament award following a World Cup, that being Oliver Kahn in 2002. Harald "Toni" Schumacher was runner-up for the award in 1986. They just have that concrete strength in all positions, big and tall guys that are not the bets player sin the world but so effective as that arrogant wall of success. Be it the commanding Ballack-38 goals from midfield in 86 appearances- or the nimble but powerful Podelski and the Arian blonde muscle of Schwienstieger, its all there to overpower the lesser nations. Even if they have started poorly in the tournaments you know they will be there or there abouts. Germany's real strength is they pick on the opposing sides weakness and always exploit it. They are not the best team in the finals but the best closers.
-Most Capped Players-
Goals in brackets...
1 Lothar Matthäus 150 (23)
2 Jürgen Klinsman 108 (47)
3 Jürgen Kohler 105 (2)
4 Franz Beckenbauer 103 (14)
5 Thomas Häßler 101(27)
6 Berti Vogts 96 (1)
7 Sepp Maier 95 (0)
= Karl-Heinz Rummenigge 95 (45)
9 Rudi Völler 90 (47)
10 Michael Ballack 86 (38)
-The Final-
This will be Germanys tenth final of the Euros and Worlds confined in thirty years, averaging one final every tournament, which you can't get better than that. This is Spain's first final since Euro 64, which they did win well. Spain are England in disguise.
It will be waves of relentless attacks and one long bombardment for the smaller Spanish team if they don't start well. If they go into their bunkers and put on the tin hats then I can't seem them keeping out the Germans. If it goes to penalties the Germans haven't lost a shoot out for 32 years, the 76 Final to Czechoslovakia. They haven't missed a penalty since 1992.
Ballack looks like he's out of the final, but Villa is an equally huge loss for Spain. It's set up to be Fàbregas and Torres final but we know Germany are the better winners. Germany are not great defensively, and don't have a dominant central defender, the suicidal attacking left-back Lamm exposing them more. If Spain plays down the middle they have a chance. Torres is due a goal. The Germans will bomb the wings and the raids to come are Spain's real weak link, Schweinsteiger the man to hurt them. But the fact that Ballack may not be there controlling things means for me Spain will be champions in a very exciting game.
-The Squad-
01Jans Lehmann Stuttgart
12 Robert Enke Hannover
23 René Adler Bayer Leverkusen
Defenders
2 Marcell Jansen Bayern Munich
3 Arne Friedrich Hertha Berlin
4 Clemens Fritz Werder Bremen
5 Heiko Westermann Schalke
16 Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich
17 Per Mertesacker Werder Bremen
21 Christoph Metzelder Real Madrid
Midfielders
6 Simon Rolfes Bayer Leverkusen
7 Bastian Schweinsteiger Bayern Munich
8 Torsten Frings Werder Bremen
13 Michael Ballack (captain) Chelsea
14 Piotr Trochowski Hamburg 12
15 Thomas Hitzlsperger VfB Stuttgart
18 Tim Borowski Werder Bremen
19 David Odonkor Real Betis
Strikers
9 Mario Gómez VfB Stuttgart
10 Oliver Neuville Borussia Mönchengladbach
11 Miroslav Klose Bayern Munich
20 Lukas Podolski Bayern Munich 53
22 Kevin Kurányi Schalke 04 49
01 Jan's Lehmann Stuttgart
12 Robert Enke Hannover
23 René Adler Bayer Leverkusen
Defenders
2 Marcell Jansen Bayern Munich
3 Arne Friedrich Hertha Berlin
4 Clemens Fritz Werder Bremen
5 Heiko Westermann Schalke
16 Philipp Lahm Bayern Munich
17 Per Mertesacker Werder Bremen
21 Christoph Metzelder Real Madrid
Midfielders
6 Simon Rolfes Bayer Leverkusen
7 Bastian Schweinsteiger Bayern Munich
8 Torsten Frings Werder Bremen
13 Michael Ballack (captain) Chelsea
14 Piotr Trochowski Hamburg 12
15 Thomas Hitzlsperger VfB Stuttgart
18 Tim Borowski Werder Bremen
19 David Odonkor Real Betis
Strikers
9 Mario Gómez VfB Stuttgart
10 Oliver Neuville Borussia Mönchengladbach
11 Miroslav Klose Bayern Munich
20 Lukas Podolski Bayern Munich 53
22 Kevin Kurányi Schalke 04 49
And finally...
England's nemesis are the Germans, of course, but it wall all meant to be so different in Euro 2008, England the clear favorites. Check out this link below form the BBC from June 2000... And who is Martin Taylor?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/2641675.s tm
-Some facts dfrom these links...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany_nat ional_football_team
http://www.oleole.com/germany /germannationalteam/history/nhibu.html
Summary: The Germans are in the final again.
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