We cannot wait to watch the Wunderkinds in action…
Top Man
Do we have to pick just one? Really? In a team jam-packed full of world-class superstars, it’s almost impossible to pick out one single stand-out performer but, seeing as we’re being forced to do it, we’re going to go with Captain Fantastisch (that’s German for “fantastic” language fans), Herr Philipp Lahm.
The influential 30-year-old Bayern Munich star played incredibly well in his newly-assigned defensive midfielder role under Pep Guardiola last season, but it seems likely that he’ll revert back to his more familiar role at right-back for the tournament.
To be fair though, Lahm the man is so tireless and talented that he could be the team’s feckin’ waterboy and still win the man of the match award. Wir lieben ihn.
Rising Star
Again, where the heck do you begin? The German national squad have such a young squad that, if it wasn’t for the inclusion of 36-year-old Miroslav Klose, the average age of the team would probably be about 14 and a half years old.
OK, so maybe not quite that young, but the Deutsch are most certainly blessed with some super-talented youngsters.
Although he’s already a superstar in the making, 22-year-old Mario Götze hasn’t quite nailed down a starting place in the national team. Following a big-money move to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich in 2013, however, the magnificent midfielder is bound to see game time during this year’s tournament, especially as Germany will no doubt use the majority of their squad as they steamroll all/most before them.
Here’s the Wunderkind in action. BANGIN’ CHOOOOON.
Did you know?
As we Irish fans are all too aware, the Germans absolutely love to bang in der goals. Lots and lots of lovely, tasty goals. As well as as bagging nine against the Boys In Green, Joachim Low’s side scored 36 goals in qualification, the most of any qualifying European nation.
Reasons for Irish fans to support them
Because the Germans give us all of our money, we HAVE to support them. It’s part of the Troika deal.
If they were a TV series
It has to be US drama One Tree Hill as it actually stars German coach Joachim Low as the lead characters’ father, Dan Scott.
Of course, we all remember how Dan tragically died in hospital in the show’s ninth and final season after being shot saving Nathan from European assassins. In a show about BASKETBALL. What the actual f*ck.
Prediction
Joachim Low, in spite of his US acting career, isn’t quite as popular with the German fans as he once was and, with the national team reaching four semi-finals in as many tournaments, the fickle footballing fans will be expecting silverware this year.
Currently lying second in the FIFA world rankings and third favourites to win the World Cup, JOE sees the Deutsch reaching the semis once more but defensive frailties may be the cause of their downfall.
Tournament odds with Ladbrokes: 5/1
