| Outright Odds: 8/1 | | | | and Podolski. |
| Group A Winners: 4/9 | | | | As always, host nations will have their critics about |
| Former national favourite and Tottenham Hotspur | | | | how ready they are to perform on the biggest stage |
| diving enthusiast Jurgen Klinsmann takes control over | | | | of all after playing only friendly matches for over a |
| the next generation of German players who are | | | | year. Germany did participate in last year's |
| keen to end 16 years of hurt and win the World Cup | | | | Confederations Cup which offered a decent level of |
| for a fourth time on their own soil. | | | | competition. The Germans finished third but a 2-2 |
| Klinsmann has thrown the traditional playing style | | | | draw against Argentina and narrow 3-2 defeat |
| manual out of the window. Gone is the patient, tight | | | | against World Cup favourites Brazil suggests they are |
| gameplay, his teams are sent out to play a | | | | on the right track. Strikers Kuranyi and Podolski also |
| "fast-paced, attacking and very aggressive" game | | | | rattled in five goals between them. |
| which has significantly improved their goal tally. | | | | German sides appear to relish being criticised and |
| However, this strategy, along with a number of | | | | seen as the "underdog", yet are always there or |
| inexperienced defenders (none have played at a | | | | thereabouts at the business end of the tournament. |
| World Cup finals before) has seen a once resolute | | | | Indeed, they were dumped out of the 1998 |
| back line concede almost as many goals as the team | | | | tournament in the quarter-final stage by Croatia, their |
| score at the other end. | | | | worst result at the World Cup since 1958, but |
| The current squad is void of any true superstar | | | | reached the final four years later. |
| names, with only Michael Ballack offering real world | | | | Klinsmann's side has learned to accept their limitations |
| class status. Per Mertesacker, Lukas Podolski and | | | | but combat this by working for eachother as a team. |
| Bastian Schweinsteiger hope to prove there is life | | | | Rudi Voller lead his much-criticised Germany team to |
| after former heroes Lothar Matthaus, now-manager | | | | the final of the 2002 World Cup so the message |
| Jurgen Klinsmann and Andreas Moller. | | | | here is, never write off the Germans, especially on |
| While there are question marks over the defence, | | | | their home turf. |
| Schweinsteiger forms part of an outstanding midfield | | | | Recommended Bet: |
| alongside Ballack and the more experienced Sebastien | | | | Expect Klismann's side to come out all guns blazing |
| Diesler and Torsten Frings. These players will have to | | | | during the tournament and with home advantage |
| work hard to ensure their untested defence (bar | | | | they should ease through the group stage. A much |
| veteran goalkeeper Oliver Kahn) does not get caught | | | | criticised German side reached final four years ago, |
| out and that a sufficient supply line meets their | | | | so why not this time aswell? |
| equally World Cup virginal strikeforce of Kevin Kuranyi | | | | |