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