GROUP E / GERMANY

*--* World Cup record: Played 78 (48-16-14); goals for: 162; goals against: 103 Best finish: Champion in 1954, 1974, 1990 1998 showing: Eliminated by Croatia in quarterfinals Coach: Rudi Voller. One of Germany’s greatest players, he scored 47 goals in 90 appearances. Had virtually no coaching experience when he succeeded Erich Ribbeck after Germany’s first-round ouster in the 2000 European championships, but guided the team past Ukraine for a spot in the 2002 Cup Players to watch: Dietmar Hamann, Christian Ziege, Michael Ballack, Oliver Kahn In brief: Already in a down cycle, German soccer has received disheartening news recently, with key injured players Sebastian Deisler, Mehmet Scholl, Christian Worns and Jens Nowotny out of the tournament. Odds of advancing would be better with a better striker Quick quote: “German football is a little depressed at the moment.”--German soccer legend Franz Beckenbauer Forecast: Second round would be an achievement

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