There are no surprises from German Nationaltrainer Joachim Löw this time, as the team is pretty much as we all expected. The fit-again Marcel Schmelzer is in at left back with Holger Badstuber moving back inside and Per Mertesacker on
The 2014 World Cup campaign is finally underway, with the Mannschaft earning a 3-0 victory over a brave but ultimately limited Faroe Islands side in Hannover. It would be a case of business as usual for Joachim Löw’s side
So, no Marcel Schmelzer after all… He’s officially unfit to start, we’re told. Per Mertesacker is back into the starting eleven, with Holger Badstuber shunted out to the left as skipper Philipp Lahm starts in his favourite right-back position. Oh,
As the Mannschaft take their first steps on the road to Brazil 2014, here we are with our first short pre-match team news bulletin. Usually Nationaltrainer Jogi Löw springs the odd surprise just prior to a match, but this time
So, it’s time for the start of the long road to Brazil, and the first World Cup Qualifiers against the Faroe Islands in Hannover (7th September) followed by a short trip across the border to Austria (11th September) – two
A new start to a new season, and the Nationalmannschaft’s fourth defeat of 2012 – the most reverses in a calendar year since Joachim Löw wook over as Nationaltrainer in 2006. But it was not all bad news. Despite the
A new season, a new start, and I’m back and raring to go again. After the highs and lows of Euro 2012, the Nationalmannschaft are back in action with what looks like a mouth-watering early season fixture against Argentina on
It is hard to believe that the Euros are finally all over. Ten qualifying matches. Months of anticipation and buildup. Then, just over three weeks of football, extracting every last emotion and shredding every last nerve. Especially if you were
I never thought it would come to this – my last ratings report of Euro 2012, and I’m not writing about the final. Instead, another semi-final against that old banana skin Italy, and yet another painful defeat.
We now know Germany’s next opponents: old friends Italy, who claimed the final semi-final spot after a penalty shootout win against a brave, well-organised but ultimately toothless England side in Kiev.
So here we are: another fine team performance, and yet another major tournament semi-final. Fifteen competitive victories in a row, and two away from a record-extending fourth European Championship title. The worst thing now will be the waiting.
Following the Nationalmannschaft’s third group phase victory against Denmark, there would be much talk about the eleven would start the quarter-final against Greece. Most of us expected the same team that had taken to the field against both Portugal and