Germany

Group                                   : G with Portugal, Ghana and USAGermany

Current Fifa Ranking       : 2nd with 1318 points

World Cup Appearances               : 1934, 1938, 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970, 1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010

Best Achievement           : Winners in 1954, 1974 and 1990, Runners Up in 1966, 1982, 1986 and 2002

Head Coach                           : Joachim Low

Captain                                     : Philipp Lahm

Surely one of the strongest sides competing, the German nation’s strongest club, Bayern Munich, possesses several national team players that have just steamrolled over opposition in Europe during the 2012/13 season. They also remain unbeaten until today in both the Champions League as well as the Bundesliga, making this a truly marvellous moment in German football history. Germany have almost always been consistent, having finished in the top four in the last 3 editions of the World Cup as well as managing to get past the group stages in every edition since 1954.

Ronaldo and co are tough, yet Die Mannschaft are far better built overall than their Portuguese group rivals. Even though Portugal is by no means a one man team, the striker’s form will surely determine the team’s results. Meanwhile Ghana will surely put up a test against the Germans with the help of Asamoah Gyan, whilst it shall be interesting to see the Boateng brothers pitted against each other in a national tournament. Jurgen Klinsmann’s USA poses less of a threat to the Germans than Portugal and Ghana do, yet the national setup has taken huge steps since hosting the tournament in 1994.

The beauty in the German squad is that there is no stand out player. The only weakness which Die Mannschaft seem to have is the lack of true strikers. In Fiorentina’s Mario Gomez and Lazio’s Miroslav Klose, Germany have two highly talented strikers, even though the former has found his playing time hampered by injuries as of late. The versatility of Bayern Munich’s Thomas Muller however means that he can be placed as a true striker instead. In midfield, the Germans are literally littered with talent, having Bayern Munich heroes Bastian Schweinsteiger, Mario Gotze and Toni Kroos in their ranks, as well as Borussia Dortmund’s Marco Reus, Arsenal’s Mezut Ozil and Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira. The defence is as solid as can be, with national team and Bayern Munich captain Philipp Lahm leading the line along with clubmate Jerome Boateng, Borussia Dortmund’s Matts Hummels and Arsenal’s Per Mertesacker, further strengthened by the wall that is Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer in goal.

Consistency, strength and brilliance, Germany possess all of the requisites required to possibly emerge victorious in this tournament, yet like other European teams will need to adapt quickly to the climate and weather which they are not used to in Brazil. Should that task be accomplished, every nation will want to steer clear of the Germans.

Latest Betting Odds on Germany

                                                                                              1                        X                     2
16th June – Germany – Portugal  – 17:00                   1.85                           3.40                  4.30
21st June – Germany – Ghana – 20:00                       1.40                            4.50                  7.80
26th June – USA – Germany – 17:00                           6.35                           4.35                  1.47
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