(Reuters) – The following is a factbox on Germany, who are in Group F at this year’s European Championship, which kicks off on June 11.
GERMANY
FIFA ranking: 12
Coach: Joachim Loew
The 61-year-old joined the team as assistant to Juergen Klinsmann before taking over in 2006, leading them to the Euro 2008 final and World Cup glory in 2014. Loew will step down from the role at the end of the tournament.
Captain: Manuel Neuer
The goalkeeper regained top form again last year and was instrumental as Bayern won the treble in 2020.
At 34, he shows no signs of slowing down and helped Bayern seal their ninth straight Bundesliga title this season and will be even more crucial with second-choice goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen injured.
Top player: Serge Gnabry
Germany’s top scorer in the qualifying stage with eight goals, Gnabry can turn defenders inside out with his dynamic dribbling while his ability to interchange between wide and central positions makes him unpredictable.
He has an outstanding record for the national team, netting 15 times in 19 appearances.
Tournament history
Germany have participated in 12 European Championships – five of them as West Germany – and won the title on three occasions: 1972, 1980 and 1996.
Die Mannschaft were runners-up in 2008, losing 1-0 to Spain in the final. They reached the semi-finals in the next two subsequent tournaments, losing to Italy in 2012 and France in 2016.
Recent form
2021 Germany 1-2 North Macedonia World Cup qualifying
2021 Romania 0-1 Germany World Cup qualifying
2021 Germany 3-0 Iceland World Cup qualifying
2020 Spain 6-0 Germany UEFA Nations League
2020 Germany 3-1 Ukraine UEFA Nations League
Tournament fixtures
June 15: v France, Munich
June 19: v Portugal, Munich
June 23: v Hungary, Munich
William Hill odds to win: 8-1
(Compiled by Hritika Sharma in Hyderabad, editing by Ed Osmond)
