So, it’s the start of a new international season, and a World Cup final rematch between the Nationalmannschaft and Argentina in Düsseldorf. It’s a new-look German team with some new combinations as Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw looks to build for the
Dropping like flies again
I have always been in two minds about the international season starting so early, particularly during a World Cup year. Despite it being almost two months after the Nationalmannschaft’s triumph in Rio there is still something of a sluggishness, with
A World Cup encore, then down to business
It has now been over a month since Germany’s historic victory over Argentina in the World Cup final in Rio, and it still seems like yesterday. The memories are still warm, but the time has come for the start of
Masterful, Magical, Magnificent. Miroslav Klose
It all began on a chilly and damp evening in Leverkusen, on 24th March 2001. Up against Albania in a crucial World Cup qualifier, the Nationalmannschaft had taken the lead five minutes into the second half after a stunning strike
The Fulfillment of a Dream: Philipp Lahm calls it a day
Just days after lifting the World Cup trophy in Rio de Janeiro, Germany’s much-respected Spielführer Philipp Lahm created a stir in the footballing world by announcing his retirement from the Nationalmannschaft. For many German fans who had expected him to
Yet another Group of Death
Yes, it’s getting a little boring now. While some seeded teams would get away with some really easy groups – I’m looking at you, Argentina and Belgium – Germany would again end up with a stinker. In short, yet another
The Top Thirty
With just over a month until the start of the World Cup finals in Brazil this summer and after much media chit-chat and speculation, Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw has finally named his preliminary squad of thirty players for the tournament –
Brazil 2014 begins today
With less that three months to go before Germany’s World Cup campaign kicks off in Brazil against Portugal, the build-up begins today with an interesting and potentially testing fixture against fellow qualifiers Chile.
Four Rabbits out of the Hat
The gradual build up to this summer’s FIFA World Cup finals begins next week, with South American opposition providing the entertainment in Stuttgart’s Mercedes-Benz-Arena. The opening fixture of 2014 pits Joachim Löw’s side against Chile, a team that has improved
Germany v Republic of Ireland: Match Analysis and Player Ratings
The penultimate fixture of Germany’s World Cup qualifying campaign would see them take on the Republic of Ireland in Köln’s Rhein-Energie-Stadion, with the Nationalmannschaft needing a win to secure their automatic passage to Brazil. Having beaten the Irish 6-1 on
Three more goals, three more points.
It’s a wet evening in Köln, and the bad weather appears to have headed north… To provide a little context, I have gone native once again for this World Cup encounter. After spending most of the day trying to escape
Into the final straight
Having picked up the expected maximum six points from their last two qualifiers against Austria and the Faroe Islands, the Nationalmannschaft would leave themselves on the brink of securing top spot in the group, with just a point needed against