World Cup Profiles: Group D: Germany

Teams / Ari Last / 01 March 2010 / Leave a comment Free £25 Bet

Based on their storming qualifying campaign and World Cup pedigree, the Germans go to South Africa with typically high hopes...

It's one of football's truest clichés: 'Never write off the Germans'. Yet at odds of [15.0] to win the tournament, it seems like this time round they're just not fancied. This is particularly strange when you consider that England, a nation whose recent performances in the World Cup are hugely inferior to Germany's, are priced at [7.0].

Based on history, and qualification form, their current price seems rather generous, since no matter how bad one thinks they are (remember 2002?) Die Mannschaft are always there or thereabouts in the end.

Nation: Germany

Also known as...
'Die Mannshcaft'

Route to South Africa...
What has always made the Germans so impressive is that they dismantle the poorer opponents with the minimal of fuss as well as rising to the occasion when the quality of opposition merits it. Joachim Lowe's side finished top of Group 4 after sweeping the likes of Azerbaijan, Wales and Liechtenstein aside, and by grinding out fantastic victories home and away against a strong Russian outfit. Their only hiccups came against Finland, when on both occasions they fought back to earn draws, and in doing so displayed the indomitable spirit and attitude which has served them so well in the past.

World Cup Pedigree...
Few nations can boast a World Cup repertoire as impressive as Germany's. Champions three times, in 1954, 1974, and 1990, they've come exceptionally close in recent years to adding to that tally, having been runners-up to a Ronaldo-inspired Brazil in 2002, and finishing third on home soil in 2006, after losing to Italy in the semi-finals.

They'll be relying on...
Michael Ballack excelling once more in the heart of his national side. The 33-year old is often overshadowed while playing for Chelsea, yet as far as his country is concerned, he is unquestionably the man they all look to for inspiration. In all likelihood, 2010 will represent Ballack's last chance to win something as Germany captain, and having been denied at the semi-final and final stage of the last two major tournaments, you can be certain that he'll turn up to South Africa as determined as anyone to get his hands on the trophy.

Something you may not have known is...
That whatever way you look at it, the Germans are formidable opponents. They've never failed to qualify for a World Cup, with the only two they've missed, 1930 and 1950, being the ones they didn't enter. What's more, once at the finals, they benefit from a steely resolve and mentality that seems ingrained in whoever pulls on their famous white jersey. This is reflected in the fact that in the most nerve-jangling events of them all, the penalty shootouts, they have a perfect record, having won four out of four.

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