Germany are heading into the 2010 World Cup hoping to claim their fourth title as World Champions in what will be their 17th appearance in a world cup tournament. They are known to head into any international footballing competition as favourites as they can be relied on to be at the tail end of most tournaments.
Germany are heading into the 2010 World Cup hoping to claim their fourth title as World Champions.
Over the past few years the international side has seen the final of two international tournaments but have not been able to make it past that last hurdle, finishing third in the 2006 World Cup, and second to Spain in Euro 2008. The German’s will be devastated with the blow they will not be led to South Africa by former skipper Michael Ballack who has been ruled out due to injury for what would have undoubtedly been his last world cup tournament.
Gritty performances which got the job done where what German fans saw as they watched their side qualify for the 2010 World Cup. It was the gutsy performance away to Russia which cemented the German’s as contenders for South Africa, as they delivered the Northern Europeans with their first defeat at home in World Cup qualifying.
Germany have been drawn in Group D for the 2010 World Cup, where they will be up against Australia, Serbia and Ghana with the fellow Europeans probably posing the biggest threat. If all goes according to the odds and statistics, the Germans will most likely be up against the USA in what could prove a tough test, although the unlikely alternative could be an arch rival dual between the English and the Germans.
Germany’s Group D Schedule
No. |
Date |
Match |
Location |
Kick-Off (Local) |
Kick-Off (AEST) |
| 7 | 13.06.10 | Germany V Australia | Durban Stadium, Durban | 20.30 | 04.30 (14.06.10) |
| 21 | 18.06.10 | Germany V Serbia | Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth | 13.30 | 21.30 |
| 39 | 23.06.10 | Ghana V Germany | Soccer City Stadium, Johannesburg | 20.30 | 04.30 (24.06.10) |
KEY PLAYERS:
PHILIPP LAHM (CAPTAIN)
Born: 11.11.1983 in Munich, Germany
Height: 1.70 metres
Position: Defender
Club: Bayern Munich, Bundesliga
International Debut: Vs Croatia (18.02.2004)
Philipp Lahm has been handed the title of skipper since Michael Ballack has been ruled out due to injury, which makes the 26 year old the youngest German captain in a World Cup tournament. The defender has been a solid part of the German national side for around six years now, having played in Euro 2004 & 2008 and also made the semi final of the 2006 World Cup with Germany. Many believe he is the strongest full back in the world at the moment, and was included in the coveted Mastercard All Star Team for 2006, and the UEFA Team of the Tournament in 2008 having been nominated for the FIFA World Player of the Year in 2006.
BASTIAN SCHWEINSTEIGER
Born: 01.08.1984 in Kolbermoor, Germany
Height: 1.83 metres
Position: Midfield
Club: Bayern Munich, Bundesliga
International Debut: Vs Hungary (2004)
Bastian Schweinsteiger is one of a few German players who has the ability to turn a game with his dangerous ability to strike on the edge of the penalty box. He has the gift few midfielders have of pin point accuracy when passing, and is versatile in the way he can play left or right wing. Schweinsteiger’s first international tournament was Euro 2004 and was part of the side which finished third in the 2006 World Cup, which will no doubt spur the side on to claim the title this time around.
MIROSLAV KLOSE
Born: 09.06.1978 in Opole, Poland
Height: 1.82 metres
Position: Striker
Club: Bayern Munich, Bundesliga
International Debut: Vs Albania (24.03.2001)
Miroslav Klose first made a name for himself when he burst onto the international stage in his debut World Cup in 2002 where he scored an impressive five headed goals, including a hat trick, which saw him level as the second highest goal scorer in the tournament – equal to the legendary Rivaldo. At the 2006 World Cup four years later, Klose went one step further and claimed the Golden Boot with five goals, and was listed in the 2006 All-Star Team Players for the World Cup. He is undeniably one of the most reliable German forwards with 48 goals in 93 games, which puts him third in the all-time scoring chart for the nation.
GERMAN SQUAD
Position |
Name |
| Coach | Joachim LOW |
| Goalkeepers | Hans Joerg BUTT |
| Manuel NEUER | |
| Tim WIESE | |
| Defenders | Dennis AOGO |
| Holger BADSTUBBER | |
| Jerome BOATENG | |
| Arne FRIEDRICH | |
| Philipp LAHM | |
| Per MERTESACKER | |
| Serdar TASCI | |
| Midfielders | Marcell JANSEN |
| Sami KHEDIRA | |
| Toni KROOS | |
| Marko MARIN | |
| Thomas MUELLER | |
| Mesult OEZIL | |
| Bastian SCHWEINSTEIGER | |
| Piotr TROCHOWSKI | |
| Forwards | CACAU |
| Mario GOMEZ | |
| Stefan KIESSLING | |
| Miroslav KLOSE | |
| Lukas PODOLSKI |
