Con tres copas del mundo en sus vitrinas (1954, 1974 y 1990) y tres Eurocopas de Naciones (1972, 1980 y 1986), la selección de Alemania tiene todos los elementos a su favor para ser considerada como una de las que brillarán con luz propia en esta nueva versión de la Euro 2012 que de manera conjunta organizarán Polonia y Ucrania.
El cuadro teutón es dirigido por el director técnico alemán, Joachim Low, quien desde que tomó los controles del equipo, en sustitución de Jurgen Klinsmann en 2006, ha logrado de nueva cuenta poner en los primeros planos a la escuadra, luego de haber conseguido el subcampeonato de la Eurocopa 2008 y el tercer lugar de la Copa del Mundo de Sudáfrica 2010.
El camino para el seleccionado alemán para llegar al certamen continental fue bastante fácil, pues arrasó en la fase de clasificación, siendo el primer equipo que consiguió su boleto, luego de ganar sus 10 partidos. Alemania se ubicó en el Grupo A, al lado de Turquía, Bélgica, Austria, Azerbaiyán y Kazajistán (sep. 3, 2010, derrotó a Bélgica 0-1; sep. 7, a Azerbaiyán 6-1; oct. 8, a Turquía 3-0; oct. 12, a Kazajistán 0-3; mar. 26, 2011, a Kazajistán 4-0; jun. 3, a Austria 1-2; jun. 7, a Azerbaiyán 1-3; sep. 2, a Austria 6-2; y oct. 7, Turquía 1-3.
Para esta justa que está por comenzar, el equipo del estratega Low encabeza el sector B, el llamado 'Grupo de la Muerte', junto a escuadras importantes como lo son Portugal, Dinamarca y Holanda. El debut de este combinado será el 9 de junio contra Portugal, su segunda confrontación ante Holanda el 13 de junio y cerrará su participación contra Dinamarca el 17 de junio.
Porteros: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Tim Wiese (Werder Bremen) y Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover)
Defensas: Holger Badstuber (Bayern Munich), Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Benedikt Howedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund) y Per Mertesacker (Arsenal/ENG).
Mediocampistas: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Muller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Real Madrid/ESP), Marco Reus (Monchengladbach), André Schurrle (Bayer Leverkusen), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid/ESP), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Mario Gotze (Dortmund) e Ilkay Gundogan (Dortmund).
Delanteros: Lukas Podolski (Arsenal/ING), Mario Gomez (Bayern Munich) y Miroslav Klose (Lazio Roma/ITA).
FIGURAS A SEGUIR
Philipp Lahm (Capitán)
Nacimiento: 11 de noviembre de 1983
Años: 28 años
Estatura: 1.70 m
Posición: defensa
Debut en el futbol profesional: 2003
Equipos: Bayern Munich
Partidos internacionales: 82
Thomas Muller
Nacimiento: 13 de septiembre de 1989
Años: 22 años
Estatura: 1.86 m
Posición: delantero
Debut en el futbol profesional: 2008
Equipos: Bayern Munich
Partidos internacionales: 25
Sami Khedira
Nacimiento: 4 de abril de 1987
Años: 25
Estatura: 1.89 m
Posición: mediocampista
Debut en el futbol profesional: 2006
Equipos: Stuttgart (Alemania) y Real Madrid (España)
Partidos internacionales: 12
Mesut Ozil
Nacimiento: 15 de octubre de 1988
Años: 23
Estatura: 1.83 m
Posición: mediocampista
Debut en el futbol profesional: 2006
Equipos: Schalke 04 (Alemania), Werder Bremen (Alemania) y Real Madrid (España)
Partidos internacionales: 30
Fotos de la Eurocopa 2012
Fotos de la Euro(01 of13)
Open Image ModalHabitantes de Polonia reciben a los aficionados que presenciarán la Eurocopa 2012 (credit:AP)
Llega Alemania(02 of13)
Open Image ModalAlemania llega al Aeropuerto Lech Walesa de Polonia para disputar la Eurocopa 2012 (credit:AP)
(03 of13)
Open Image ModalGermany's Mesut Oezil, top, jumps over Israel's goalkeeper Ariel Harush, bottom, after he failed to score a goal during a friendly international soccer match between Germany and Israel in Leipzig, Germany, Thursday, May 31, 2012. The German team won by 2-0 preparing for the Euro 2012, where Germany will play in Group B with Denmark, Netherlands and Portugal. (AP Photo/Gero Breloer) (credit:AP)
(04 of13)
Open Image ModalLa policía italiana irrumpió en el entrenamiento de la selección para indagar sobre casos de arreglo de partidos. (credit:AP)
Domenico Criscito, Cesare Prandelli(05 of13)
Open Image ModalSeleccionados italianos, involucrados en casos de arreglos de partidos. (credit:AP)
Germany's midfielders Sami Khedira and M(06 of13)
Open Image ModalGermany's midfielders Sami Khedira and Mesut Oezil take part in a training session at the EURO 2012 training camp of the German national football team on May 23, 2012 in Nice, southeastern France. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
French national football team forward H(07 of13)
Open Image ModalFrench national football team forward Hatem Ben Arfa controls the ball during a training session, on May 22, 2012 in Clairefontaine, outside Paris, as part of France's preparation stage for the Euro 2012. AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE (Photo credit should read FRANCK FIFE/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Dutch forward Robin van Persie plays wit(08 of13)
Open Image ModalDutch forward Robin van Persie plays with his daughter Dina Layla on May 18, 2012 in Lausanne after a first training session ahead of the Euro 2012. The Netherlands national football has a training camp in Switzerland. AFP PHOTO / FABRICE COFFRINI (Photo credit should read FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
The new national stadium built for the E(09 of13)
Open Image ModalThe new national stadium built for the EURO 2012 is pictured ahead of the upcoming football championship in Warsaw May 17, 2012. Euro 2012 co-host Poland has sealed its final preparations for the football showcase, which kicks off in just three weeks, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Thursday. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
Jewish, Muslim and Christian clergymen p(10 of13)
Open Image ModalJewish, Muslim and Christian clergymen participate in the blessing of an ecumenical chapel at Poland's new national stadium in Warsaw on May 10, 2012 ahead of the EURO 2012. AFP PHOTO/JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
A woman smokes in front of a placard dep(11 of13)
Open Image ModalA woman smokes in front of a placard depicting the EURO 2012 tournament cup on Independence Square in Kiev on May 10, 2012, a day before the trophy reaches Ukraine's capital where it will be paraded. Along with tournament co-hosts Poland and Ukraine, European football's governing body UEFA has organised a five-week trophy tour in cities across the two countries. AFP PHOTO / SERGEI SUPINSKY (Photo credit should read SERGEI SUPINSKY/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
CORRECTION ALL INFORMATIONS A giant-size(12 of13)
Open Image ModalCORRECTION ALL INFORMATIONS A giant-size version of the EURO 2012 tickets is displayed on the pitch of Warsaw's national stadium during its unveiling by tournament organisers on April 23, 2012. AFP PHOTO/ JANEK SKARZYNSKI (Photo credit should read JANEK SKARZYNSKI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
Germany's midfielder Lukas Podolski pose(13 of13)
Open Image ModalGermany's midfielder Lukas Podolski poses for a picture after a press conference at the EURO 2012 training camp on May 24, 2012, at their hotel in Tourrettes, southeastern France. The UEFA European Football Championship begins June 8 and ends July 1. AFP PHOTO / PATRIK STOLLARZ (Photo credit should read PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty)
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