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