STAR WORLD CUP 2010 SOUTH AFRICA: Worldcup 2010 Group D : Germany

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Worldcup 2010 Group D : Germany

Germany

Coach: Joachim Loew

Joachim Loew nicknamed Jogi Loew is the Head Coach of Germany and replaced Jurgen Klinsmann after the 2006 World Cup. Despite having limited top level managerial experience Loew has proven himself by taking Germany to the Euro 2008 final and now qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.

World Cup 2010 Qualifying:

Germany have not missed a World Cup finals since 1950 and that record was extended as they booked their place with a 1-0 win away to their group rivals Russia. Miroslav Klose's 35th-minute strike clinched the win and saw Germany, who played the last 22 minutes with 10 men after Jerome Boateng was sent off, win the group with one round of matches remaining. Germany coach Joachim Loew said "We said from the start that we wanted to play for a win here, and so go forward. Of course we had a bit of luck in some situations, one has to say that."

Past World Cup Performance:

Germany are one of the world's most successful national football teams having won a total of three World Cups, they have also been runners-up on four occasions. Germany won the World Cup in 1954, 1974 and 1990 and over the years they have produced some of the world's greatest players including the likes of Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Muller, Lothar Matthaus, Jurgen Klinsmann and many more! The 1954 World Cup Final saw the former West Germany defeat the mighty Hungary 3-2 to lift the Jules Rimet trophy. In 1974, West Germany led by Beckenbauer overcame Cruyff's Holland 3-2 in the final with Gerd Muller scoring the winning goal. In 1990, Beckenbauer was again to lead Germany to World Cup victory but this time as coach where they beat Maradona's Argentina 1-0 in one of the worst World Cup Finals ever played! Germany are currently ranked 5th in the World and have been drawn in World Cup Group D along with Australia, Ghana and Serbia. It is worth noting that German striker Miroslav Klose has scored 10 goals in the last two World Cup's and if Germany show their usual tournament form then he could be a great bet for the Golden Boot in South Africa!