Having had their homecoming party balloons popped by Argentina earlier in the week Joachim Löw’s side would entertain a hard-working and spirited Scotland team in their opening Euro 2016 qualifying match – and what had been billed by many as
After Wednesday’s party let-down against Argentina, it is back to the serious business for Joachim Löw’s side this evening in Dortmund – with Scotland the visitors as the qualification campaign for the Euro 2016 tournament in France gets underway. The
In the wake of Germany’s last home game – in early June against Armenia in Mainz – everything would be still up in the air. The team had overcome a sluggish start to defeat their opponents 6-1, and days that
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
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
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
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
Over the past month and a bit it has been a busy time. Over forty articles and reports covering the buildup, the tournament, the reviews and the tributes – with more to come as I round off what has been
The victorious German team are back home or on holiday, the World Cup trophy is safely in the locker for another four years, and it’s now time for what will be one of most memorable tournament post-mortems. The recent retirement
OK, this is the final World Cup video blog, but there will be one more very short piece to come… I’ll leave you all to find out why. So, after just over a month of fantastic football in Brazil, the
When the World Cup began more than a month ago, the thought of Germany being in the final would be little more than a dream. Placed in the toughest half of the draw with a possible quarter-final against France and
It’s a warm and bright late afternoon in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and the day has arrived. After over a month of competition, the two best teams are here compete for football’s biggest and most famous prize: the