Euro 2008 - A look at the Germany squad

Eurosport - Tue, 24 Jun 10:09:00 2008

A brief look at Germany's players ahead of their Euro 2008 semi-final against Turkey in Basel on Wednesday.

FOOTBALL 2008 Germany - Podolski - 0

1-Jens Lehmann (Arsenal). Goalkeeper. Born 10.11.69. Caps: 59 Tournament appearances: 4. Goals conceded: 4. Yellow cards: 1

Came into the tournament short of match practice after losing his place at Arsenal last season and looked jittery in the early stages of the opening 2-0 win over Poland. Gradually improved in the group stage and back to his commanding self in the quarter-final win over Portugal. Has agreed to join Vfb Stuttgart.

12-Robert Enke (Hanover 96). Goalkeeper. Born 24.8.77. Caps: 1 Tournament appearances: 0. Goals conceded: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Goalkeeping coach Andreas Koepke confirmed at the start of the tournament that Enke is the second choice, ahead of Rene Adler. A respected keeper but he looked nervous in his one international appearance -- a 1-0 defeat by Denmark.

23-Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen). Goalkeeper. Born 15.1.85. Caps: 0 Tournament appearances: 0. Goals conceded: 0. Yellow cards: 0

One of a handful of brilliant young keepers in Germany, Adler has yet to win his first cap and is third choice here.

21-Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid). Defender. Born: 5.11.80. Caps: 45. Goals 0 Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Metzelder has put a hugely frustrating season at Real Madrid behind him to show once again that he can always be relied on by Germany in major tournaments. Was called upon several times in the first two games to get fullback Marcell Jansen out of trouble.

17-Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen). Defender. Born 29.9.84. Caps: 47. Goals 1 Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

The 1.96 metre tall centre-back has been solid alongside Christoph Metzelder without playing at his absolute best. Led the defensive line well against Portugal, which should boost his confidence. Has been suffering from a cold lately but said on Monday he was over the worst.

16-Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich). Defender. Born 11.11.83. Caps 45. Goals 2. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 1

The scurrying Lahm has been one of Germany's best players. Started as a right-back but switched to the left following Marcell Jansen's injury and loss of form and has looked equally at home, always trying to get forward and tackling effectively. Gave the Portuguese forwards no room in the quarter-final.

3-Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin). Defender. Born 29.5.79. Caps 59. Goals 0 Tournament appearances: 2. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 1

A fixture at the 2006 World Cup, Friedrich lost his place to Jansen for the first two games but was recalled at right-back for the matches against Austria and Portugal and Germany have looked more secure as a result. Kept Cristiano Ronaldo quiet against Portugal, which was no mean feat.

2-Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich). Defender. Born 4.11.85. Caps 25. Goals 1 Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

The tall right-back was the only German player not to look convincing in the opening 2-0 win over Poland and he had a nightmare in the 2-1 defeat by Croatia before an injured shoulder forced him out at halftime. Came on as a late substitute against Portugal but unlikely to dislodge Friedrich and win back his place in the starting lineup now.

4-Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen). Defender. Born 7.12.80. Caps 18. Goals 2 Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Nominally a defender, Fritz played on the right side of midfield against Poland and had a good game. Was less effective against Croatia and was virtually anonymous in the 1-0 win over Austria that took Germany through. Lost his place to the returning Bastian Schweinsteiger for the quarter-final against Portugal, although he came off the bench late in the game.

5-Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04). Defender. Born 14.8.83. Caps 3. Goals 0 Tournament appearances: 0. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Caught the eye when playing as a fearless wing-back in the Champions League last season and has been told by coach Joachim Loew to be on standby in case one of the central defenders gets injured.

13-Michael Ballack (Chelsea). Midfielder. Born: 26.9.76. Caps 85. Goals 38. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 2. Yellow cards: 1

Germany's captain started quietly but scored a thunderous free kick to settle the Austria match and turned in a command performance in the quarter-final win over Portugal. Basically played too far back in the group phase but took advantage of a much freer role against the Portuguese to run the match and score the third goal with a header.

15-Thomas Hitzlsperger (VfB Stuttgart). Midfielder. Caps 36. Goals 5. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Made substitute appearances in two of Germany's three group games before coming into the starting lineup against Portugal, playing a holding role alongside Simon Rolfes. Hardly put a foot wrong and has a strong case for continuing against Turkey.

6-Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen). Midfielder. Born 21.1.82. Caps 11. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Aggressive midfielder who, like Hitzlsperger, was a surprise choice against Portugal. Tall and strong, he made life extremely uncomfortable for the Portugal midfielders and stands a good chance of keeping his place even though Torsten Frings has recovered from a rib injury.

8-Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen). Midfielder. Born 22.11.76. Caps 75. Goals 10. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Started well against Poland but his influence gradually decreased against Croatia and Austria and coach Joachim Loew may have been glad a fractured rib kept him out against Portugal. He now faces a tricky decision over whether to recall him.

7-Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich). Midfielder. Born 1.8.84. Caps 54. Goals 4 Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 1. Yellow cards: 1. Red cards: 1

Germany's most naturally talented midfielder was limited to substitute appearances in the first two games and while he did well each time he spoiled the effect by getting sent off at the end of the Croatia game for a shove on Jerko Leko. Man of the match when he returned against Portugal after scoring the first goal and setting up the next two with pinpoint free kicks.

20-Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich, pictured). Midfielder. Born 4.6.85. Caps 52. Goals 28. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 3. Yellow cards: 0

The winner of the best young player award at the last World Cup reinvented himself as a midfielder for this tournament and has done brilliantly, scoring three goals and contributing an eye-catching assist for the opener against Portugal. Blessed with great strength and calmness in front of goal, if he continues in this sort of form Germany have a real chance.

14-Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg SV). Midfielder. Born 22.3.84. Caps 12. Goals 0. Tournament appearances: 0. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Like Lukas Podolski and Miroslav Klose, Trochowski is an attacking player of Polish origin. Has learned a lot from playing alongside Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart at Hamburg and could yet have a role to play here.

18-Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen/Bayern Munich). Midfielder. Caps 33. Goals 2 Tournament appearances: 2. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0 Came on as a very late substitute against Austria and got a slightly longer run-out in the quarter-final with Portugal but made no real impact. Has great touch and an eye for goal but has slipped down the midfield pecking order.

19-David Odonkor (Real Betis). Midfielder. 21.2.84. Caps 16. Goals 1 Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Right-sided midfielder who was extremely disappointing in a 45-minute appearance as a substitute against Croatia. Seems to have lost a bit of his explosive pace and only likely to be used again if coach Joachim Loew runs out of other ideas.

9-Mario Gomez (VfB Stuttgart). Forward. 10.7.85. Caps 13 Goals 6. Tournament appearances: 3. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Came into the tournament with a reputation for making scoring look easy but missed chances early in the games versus Poland and Austria and was dropped against Portugal. Suffering from a crisis of confidence, it seems, and coach Joachim Loew will have to think long and hard before picking him again.

11-Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich). Forward. Born 9.6.78. Caps 79. Goals 40. Tournament appearances: 4. Goals: 1. Yellow cards: 0

The top scorer at the last World Cup finally broke his duck at Euro 2008 with the second goal in the 3-2 win over Portugal. Did a great job in that game as a lone forward and looks to be back near his best form.

22-Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04). Forward. Born 2.3.82. Caps 49. Goals 19. Tournament appearances: 2. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

Tall striker who has come off the bench for brief appearances against Poland and Croatia. Did not do much but with Mario Gomez out of form he could be in the coach's thoughts if he decides to go back to 4-4-2 from 4-5-1.

10-Oliver Neuville (Borussia Moenchengladbach). Forward. Caps 69. Goals 10. Tournament appearances: 1. Goals: 0. Yellow cards: 0

The Swiss-born forward with a nippy style has a reputation as a supersub but wasted a series of chances when he came on late in the game against Austria.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 11 of 11

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  1. Swine-eaters! Boy-lovers! Allah will punish you Germans, and Turkey shall ride high unto glory once more. Islam will triumph! Europe, your time of dominance is ended!

    From Voortrekker, on Wed 25 Jun 7:15PM

  2. Yezzaaaa....the best tactical side will win and surely that goes to German!! It's so pathetic to lose with the Turks coz you are the better team instead. Good luck for tonight!!!

    From haycomel, on Wed 25 Jun 5:36PM

  3. I think most of europians wants TURKEY to win.Like England,Holland,Spain, Italy, France, Portuguese, Croatia, Swiss,Russia, Czech Rep., Greece, also Israel and all the Turkish Nations of course (like,Albania,Azerbaijan, Bosnia&Herzagovina, Turkish Republic of Cyprus,Kyrgyzstan,Kosovo, Turkmenistan,Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,Abkhazia,Uzbekistan, Nakhchivan...)Also all the Muslim countries (like Mauritania,Maldives,Western Sahara,Somalia,Iran,Algeria,Afghanistan,Yemen,Tunisia,Oman,Com oros,Djibouti,Morocco,Iraq,Libya,Pakistan,Saudi Arabia,Tajikistan,Jordan,Qatar,Senegal,Azerbaijan,Egypt,Mali,N iger,Gambia, Indonesia,Bangladesh,Syria,Guinea,Kuwait,Bahrain,Palestine,Uni ted Arab Emirates,Lebanon,Albania,Brunei,Sudan,Malaysia,Sierra Leone,Burkina Faso,Chad,Nigeria,Eritrea,Ethiopia...) and United States of America(interesting, isn't it?)...Good luck germ ans...if you have any:-))Turks will win with their subs. goal keeper Tolga will play in the forvet for the first time in Finals history...Be sure the God is watching us too...

    From turrco f, on Wed 25 Jun 3:45PM

  4. the germans are already the winner today and will be the winner in the final bcos you know a responsible man from his childhood,the durability of a biulding is on the foundation they began well tha's y they'r still where they are 2day.thanx 4m Ayo in Abj.

    From josephakande@ymail.com, on Wed 25 Jun 12:27PM

  5. The Euro trophy is ours for the taking!!! Not ours yet, but 2 more wins...I would say, the opportunity is there, and we have a team that is willing to take it...Of course I would like us to go the extra mile, that way we make it a tournament to remember just like England 1996!
    This is Ballayear

    From Rae, on Tue 24 Jun 6:12PM

  6. The english in the other forums would like any team to win but us...hahaha...how much i like to see that only to prove the english that even when they don't have a team, they still lose.

    From Rae, on Tue 24 Jun 6:10PM

  7. my main chelsea player ballack will do it for me .nosa USA thank uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu uuuuuuuuuuuuuuu

    From istarlet, on Tue 24 Jun 4:03PM

  8. I SUPPORT GERMANY TO WIN AND THEY ARE GOING TO CARRY THE CUP, BECAUSE THEY ARE VERY COOPERATIVE IN ALL THIER STEPS, VERY STRONG TOO.
    JERRY PAT FROM WARRI

    From ifeanyip2002, on Tue 24 Jun 3:22PM

  9. germany is a strong team.hit the english!

    From pukhebi, on Tue 24 Jun 3:00PM

  10. To be honest, i dont think the english would mind too much if germany won, they are a pretty good team after all

    From uberdoyle@rocketmail.com, on Tue 24 Jun 1:46PM

  11. GO GERMANY GO,,,THE WHOLE OF INDIA SUPPORT U,,,WIN THE CUP & LET THE ENGLAND BURN IN JEALOUSLY.

    From BUBBA KOOL, on Tue 24 Jun 1:27PM
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