Germany keen to remain on top

Germany keen to remain on top




How did they perform in UEFA EURO 2008™ qualifying?

• Germany were the first side to secure qualification for the finals with a 0-0 draw in the Republic of Ireland on 13 October 2007, although a couple of aberrations took some of the gloss off a generally impressive campaign by Joachim Löw's side.
• Germany broke the record for the biggest ever UEFA European Championship win, beating San Marino 13-0 away on 6 September 2006, with Lukas Podolski scoring four goals – only the second German player after Gerd Müller put four past Albania in 1967 to manage that feat.
• They were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by Cyprus in Nicosia on 15 November, but made amends in their next game, beating Czech Republic, the eventual Group D winners, 2-1 in Prague through two Kevin Kuranyi goals.
• They met the Czechs again after they had secured qualification, but left the pitch to catcalls after losing 3-0 in Munich – a result which saw Karel Brückner's visitors through to the finals.
• They finished second in their group after a 0-0 draw against Wales in their final qualifier.

How did they perform in the 2006 FIFA World Cup?

• Germany did not feature in the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification round as they were the hosts of the final tournament.
• Germany won all three of their games in the group stage of the finals against Costa Rica (4-2), Poland (1-0) and Ecuador (3-0).
• In the knockout phase they progressed to the semi-finals with victories against Sweden (2-0) and Argentina (4-2 on penalties after the match had ended 1-1).
• The hosts were then eliminated by Italy (2-0) but did finish third after a 3-1 win against Portugal.
• Striker Miroslav Klose ended the tournament as leading scorer, winning the Golden Shoe with five goals.

How did they perform in UEFA EURO 2004™?

• Germany were involved in the finals for the ninth successive time, qualifying for the eighth successive occasion having hosted the final tournament in 1988. In those eight qualifications, they have finished top of their qualification round group every time.
• In qualifying for UEFA EURO 2004™, Germany won five and drew their remaining three matches to finish four points clear of Scotland. Nevertheless, their only comprehensive victory came in their final match, a 3-0 defeat of Iceland in Hamburg with Michael Ballack (9), Fredi Bobic (60) and Kevin Kuranyi (79) on target.
• Two two-goal victories were recorded home and away against the Faroe Islands, with their other successes coming away against Lithuania (2-0) and at home against Scotland (2-1).
• In their three draws at home against Lithuania (1-1), away against Scotland (1-1) and away against Iceland (0-0), Germany never trailed.
• But their performance in the final tournament disappointed with only two points from three group stage outings. Draws were recorded against the Netherlands (1-1) and Latvia (0-0) before Germany exited the competition following their 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic in a repeat of the EURO '96™ final.

What is their best performance in the UEFA European Championship?

• Germany have won the competition once since reunification (1996) but three times overall having earlier won the competition in 1972 and 1980 as West Germany. The Czech Republic were defeated in the 1996 final at Wembley, Oliver Bierhoff scoring the golden goal winner five minutes into extra-time after having earlier scored their equaliser 17 minutes from time. Patrik Berger had given the Czechs a 59th-minute lead from the penalty spot.
• Germany advanced from the group stage with defeats of the Czech Republic (2-0) and Russia (3-0) before holding Italy to a scoreless draw. Their reward was a quarter-final match against Croatia which Germany won 2-1 before they defeated England in the semis on penalties after the match ended 1-1 after extra-time.

Key facts
• Germany have not won a match in the final tournament of a UEFA European Championship since winning the competition in 1996. Since then, Germany have played six matches, drawing three and losing three with three goals scored and eight conceded.

All-time record

• Germany lead the way with three tournament victories to date. In 1972 and 1980 they won the competition as West Germany, but their 1996 success came after reunification. France are the only other country to have won the competition more than once following successes in 1984 and 2000.
• Up until the end of qualifying for UEFA EURO 2008™, Germany had appeared in the UEFA European Championship on eleven occasions, and had played 110 matches. In that time, they won 67, drawn 29 and lost 14 of those fixtures with 224 goals scored and 77 conceded.