World Cup 2010: Germany

World Cup 2010: GERMANY

FIFA ranking: 6

Overall World Cup record: 37-12-9

Coach: Joachim Low

Best performance: Winner, 1954, 1974, 1990

Overview: It will be difficult for Low and his team to recapture the magical summer of 2006, when Germany, playing at home, finished third after a series of better-than-expected performances that won over the fans. The team has no out-and-out star, but it was unbeaten at 8-0-2 in qualifying and has reached at least the quarterfinals of every World Cup since 1982. Striker Miroslav Klose, with 10 goals, could challenge the all-time World Cup record of 15 set by Brazil’s Ronaldo.

-- Grahame L. Jones