With an impressive 2006 World Cup behind them and not far to travel, Germany are many people's favourites going into Euro 2008.

GERMANY

Current FIFA ranking

5 (between Spain and the Czech Republic)

Route to finals

Germany finished second behind the Czech Republic in Qualifying Group D. Seven wins in their first eight games - including a record-breaking 13-0 demolition of San Marino - put them in charge of the group, and a 0-0 draw against Ireland in October made them the first team to qualify for the finals.

They conceded the advantage in the group with a 3-0 defeat at home to the Czechs, and a 0-0 draw at home to a battling Wales side meant they had to make do with the runners-up spot.

International pedigree

Seriously impressive. With three World Cups (1954, 1974, 1990) and three European Championships (1972, 1980, 1996) under their belt - not to mention a further six major final appearances - Germany are the most successful international side in Europe.

After a surprising first round exit at Euro 2004 they bounced back with a storming run to the semi-finals as hosts of the last World Cup in 2006.

Coach

Germany ensured continuity following their impressive showing at the World Cup by replacing departing coach Jurgen Klinsmann with his assistant Joachim Loew.

An undistinguished player, Loew made his name as a coach with Schalke 04, whom he guided to the 1996-1997 German Cup and the final of the Cup Winners' Cup the year after. Spells in Austria and Turkey followed, before he joined the national set-up in 2004.

Scarf enthusiast Loew has a reputation as an innovative, tactically astute coach, but he has largely kept faith with the 4-4-2 formation that served the Nationalmannschaft so well at the World Cup.

Familiar faces

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann will start the tournament as Germany's number one despite his lack of playing time for the Gunners this season, while captain Michael Ballack of Chelsea is a near deity in his homeland, with 35 goals in 79 appearances for the national side.

Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose was the top scorer at the last World Cup, when he became the first player in history to score five goals or more in consecutive tournaments.

Potential stars

Little has changed since the World Cup, with Marcell Jansen likely to be the only new face in the side at left-back, but Stuttgart striker Mario Gomez will be looking to claim a starting berth alongside Klose after two impressive seasons.

The 22-year old was named German Player of the Year in 2007 and has scored six goals in just nine international appearances to date. Furthermore, his main rival in the squad, Lukas Podolski, has been largely consigned to substitute appearances for Bayern Munich this season.

Chances

Heavily fancied. They are characteristically solid, with a well-established tactical system, and in Klose, Gomez, Podolski and Kevin Kuranyi they have some of the tournament's deadliest finishers.

Players like Ballack and Klose have proven records at major tournaments, but there one weakness may be in goal, with the ageing Lehmann short on sharpness after a frustrating season.

Possible starting XI

Jens Lehmann (Arsenal); Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Christoph Metzelder (Real Madrid), Per Mertesacker (Werder Bremen), Marcell Jansen (Bayern Munich); Torsten Frings (Werder Bremen); Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Michael Ballack (Chelsea), Tim Borowski (Werder Bremen); Miroslav Klose (Bayern Munich), Lukas Podolski (Bayern Munich)

Back-ups

Goalkeepers: Robert Enke (Hannover 96), Rene Adler (Bayer Leverkusen); Defenders: Arne Friedrich (Hertha Berlin), Clemens Fritz (Werder Bremen), Heiko Westermann (Schalke 04); Midfielders: Thomas Hitzlsperger (Stuttgart), Simon Rolfes (Bayer Leverkusen), Piotr Trochowski (Hamburg), David Odonkor (Real Betis); Forwards: Mario Gomez (Stuttgart), Kevin Kuranyi (Schalke 04), Oliver Neuville (Borussia Monchengladbach).

Group B fixtures

08/06/2008: Poland

12/06/2008: Croatia

16/06/2008: Austria

Tom Williams / Eurosport