| The drawing for the World Cup | | | | came the half time. Just a few minutes |
| qualification groups took place at the | | | | of the second half Finland managed the |
| end of November 2007 in the | | | | 3:2 goal and it seemed like this would |
| South-African city of Durban. The | | | | become the final score. But short time |
| ceremonial event was inaugurated by the | | | | before the final whistle, Klose scored |
| South-African president Thabo Mbeki and | | | | and tied the game. This is how he kept |
| the FIFA-President Sepp Blatter. The 53 | | | | his team from the first defeat. |
| participating countries from Europe were | | | | Germany's coach Joachim Löw said |
| allotted in eight groups of six teams | | | | before the game that it would be an easy |
| each and one group of five teams. The | | | | game because the Finn team was very |
| winner of each group will automatically | | | | strong in the defensive. Still, he |
| qualify for the upcoming World Cup. The | | | | expected his team to ensure the second |
| eight best second-placed teams will play | | | | victory in the qualification round. So |
| in four duels with a first leg and a | | | | far the two teams have faced each other |
| return leg to play off for the last four | | | | 20 times, whereby Germany achieved 15 |
| European starting places. | | | | victories and four games ended with a |
| Amongst the German National team in | | | | tie. Just one time the German team was |
| group 4 are: Russia, Finland, Wales, | | | | defeated, this was 85 years ago. |
| Azerbaijan and Lichtenstein. Germany has | | | | The next opponent of the German team |
| taken place in a Football World Cup | | | | will be the Russian team coached by Guus |
| already 15 times during which they | | | | Hiddink. Russia grinded out a 2:1 |
| became champion 3 times (1954, 1974, | | | | victory against Wales last Wednesday. |
| 1990). After two away games Germany | | | | This coming up game will take place in |
| keeps the first place of the chart with | | | | almost one month next October 11th, in |
| four points. In front of a small number | | | | Dortmund. |
| of spectators of around 7.850 people, | | | | Not as much luck, on the other hand, had |
| the first game against Lichtenstein took | | | | the Swiss national team who is headed by |
| place on September 6th and it ended with | | | | former Bundesliga-coach Ottmar Hitzfeld. |
| a score of 0:6 victory for the German | | | | The team lost after a balanced first |
| team. | | | | half at the end by 1:2 against |
| At the second qualification game, it was | | | | Luxemburg. Along with the tie from the |
| quiet different when Germany had to face | | | | previous game against Israel, |
| the Finn team. The game took place in | | | | Switzerland is now in the fifth place of |
| front of a quintuplicate number of | | | | their group. There are still eight games |
| spectators at the Olympic Stadium in | | | | to go for Hitzfeld's team so we will see |
| Helsinki. The Finn national team took | | | | if they will be able to ensure |
| the lead with one goal within the first | | | | themselves a ticket to Africa. |
| half hour but Germany's skipper Miroslav | | | | Defending champion Italy can breathe |
| Klose managed the tie in just five | | | | again. After the elimination in the |
| minutes. After another few minutes | | | | quarter finals of the European Cup, the |
| Germany fell again behind but as well as | | | | team leads now their group chart. |
| the first time Germany's skipper was at | | | | With two victories against Cyprus and |
| the spot and scored for the tie. Then | | | | Georgia they accumulated six points. |