| Germany has always been a side to be contended | | | | Germany there was probably none more admired |
| with in FIFA World Cup play and the current side is no | | | | than Lothar Matthaus, who holds the record for most |
| exception. Since they first competed in 1934, Germany | | | | World Cup appearances at an astounding 25 between |
| has won the Cup three times, second only to Italy (4 | | | | 1982 and 1998. When discussing Germans in the World |
| times) and Brazil (5). On their way to Johannesburg, | | | | Cup one cannot forget Franz Beckenbauer, who lifted |
| they maintained an 8-1 record, securing their place on | | | | the trophy as a player in 1974 and as a manager in |
| the 17th October, 2009. | | | | 1990, and led the successful bid that scored the hosting |
| The current manager of the German national side is | | | | duties for his country in 2006. |
| Joachim Low, who at 49 is one of the younger | | | | The current German squad is captained by Chelsea |
| managers headed to the 2010 tournament in South | | | | veteran Michael Ballack, who has become one of the |
| Africa. He honed his craft both as a professional | | | | all time leading goal scorers for his country and will be |
| player in the 1980s and as an assistant coach under | | | | competing in his third World Cup competition in 2010. |
| the charismatic Jurgen Klinsmann. In the two years | | | | He will be taking with him a strong mix of veterans |
| they worked together, which culminated in the | | | | including Miroslav Klose, whose goal in the match |
| country's third place finish in the 2006 Cup, played on | | | | against Russia, which secured qualification, was his |
| German soil, they developed a philosophy which Low | | | | 48th for his country, besting his current captain by one. |
| kept in place once he took over. | | | | It is still 20 shy of the German record holder, Gerd |
| Every country has their World Cup hero, and for | | | | Muller, another member of the 1974 cup winning squad. |