The dust has now started to settle after Euro 2016, and it is time for the tournament school report, where we gather together all of the numbers from Germany’s summer campaign in France and crunch them all together into one
All good things have to come to an end. Germany had come into their Euro semi-final against hosts France with more than a degree of confidence after their dramatic quarter-final victory over (former) bogey team Italy, but in the end
History, omens, form, fitness, psychology. Some of many things one has to factor in when attempting to do the impossible – namely, to write a preview for a high-profile football match. I usually try to avoid this sort of thing,
OK, Germany couldn’t quite beat Italy inside the ninety minutes or even extra time, but a messy penalty shootout victory will do. At the ninth attempt, the Italian curse has been broken. True to expectations, the encounter in Bordeaux was
Having started to click into gear in their final group match against Northern Ireland, the Mannschaft machine looked to have got things absolutely right – overwhelming a defensively-minded Slovakia with a heady mix of skill, guile and power. With the
Germany rounded off their first phase group with a flourish, even if the final result was far from indicative of their powerful and dominant performance. Changes made by Nationaltrainer Jogi Löw produced much needed spark as the Mannschaft threatened to
After the 2-0 opening group victory against Ukraine, Germany’s campaign stumbled and stuttered in what was a laboured and arguably fortunate goalless draw against a well-drilled Polish side. With both teams coming into the match on three points, a victory
The setting: The impressive Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint-Denis. The match: Germany against Poland, one of the great tournament fixtures and the biggest game of Group C. With a win from their opening game, the path
So, it begins! After all of the build-up, predictions and (meaningless) warm-up matches, the Euros finally start for the Mannschaft against the Ukraine in Lille. Incidents off the pitch have made the biggest headlines so far, but the world champions
June 10th. The Euros begin today, kicking off with host nation France taking on one of the many tournament dark horses (oh how we love that term!) Romania. Two days from now, Germany kick off their own campaign with another
After the soggy encounter against Slovakia the previous Sunday, the weather is considerably brighter at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen, and there is a more solid and established look to the German team too. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is back and with
As expected, there is an experimental look to the starting eleven for the first of the Mannschaft’s final two pre-Euros warm-up matches against fellow tournament finalists Slovakia in Augsburg. It is Germany’s first meeting against the Repre for almost a