Group B Preview- Germany

Germany are always named favourites no matter their quality and form at the time of a big tournament. They are the most succesful national team in Europe and this time around they qualified with a particular ease. After an unexpected success in the world cup they hosted in 2006 Jurgen Klinsmann left to be replaced by his former assistant Joachim Loew who has kept the team going in the same vein. He employs a diamond 4-4-2 formation with in form Mario Gomes expected to partner the prolofic Mario Gomes upfront in place of out of shorts Lukas Podolski who had an idifferent season in bayern Munich. One of the worries in Low's head is the lack of football many of his players experienced the past season as well as the goalkeeping situation. The kind draw is one of the plus points with germany expected to ease up to the semi-finals in theory of course. The emergence of captain Mickael ballack at chelsea should give the germans enough optimism for the upcoming tournament

PROS:
1)Settled squad the last couple of years
2)Strong midfield+ a prolific striker in Klose
3)Philip Lahm probably Europe's best left-back


CONS:
1)Shaky defence, Metzelder has not featured much for Real Madrid
2)Lack of options upfront that led to the inclusion of veteran Neuville who plays his football in Germany's second tier with Borussia Monchengladbach
3)No clear choice for a goalkeeper




Germany squad
Goalkeepers:
Jens Lehmann (Arsenal FC)
Robert Enke (Hannover 96)
René Adler (Bayer 04 Leverkusen).

Defenders:
Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid CF)
Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen)
Philipp Lahm (FC Bayern München)
Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC Berlin)
Marcell Jansen (FC Bayern München)
Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen)
Heiko Westermann (FC Schalke 04)

Midfielders:
Michael Ballack (Chelsea FC)
Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart)
Simon Rolfes (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)
Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen)
Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)
Piotr Trochowski (Hamburger SV)
Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen)
David Odonkor (Real Betis Balompié)

Forwards:
Miroslav Klose (FC Bayern München)
Lukas Podolski (FC Bayern München)
Mario Gómez (VfB Stuttgart)
Kevin Kuranyi (FC Schalke 04)
Oliver Neuville (VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach).