COUNTRY FOCUS: GERMANY

Many people are of the opinion that, for a few years now, Germany have failed to produce a national side to compare with some of the great German teams of past years. In terms of quality of players produced there is some truth in that, but they continue to deliver when it really matters - time and time again. Germany play the role of the underdog better than anyone else in the world. No other country plays tournament football as consistently well. Methodical preparation, a team ethic, mental strength second-to-none and an imperious self-belief - these attributes are innate to 'the German national team' of any era. Why is it said that we should never write off the Germans? Because they never write themselves off. Their recent record in the major tournaments - semi-finalists four years on home soil, runners-up at the 2002 World Cup and at Euro 2008 - should leave us expecting Germany to be in the thick of it again come the latter stages of South Africa 2010.

World Cup Pedigree:

Germany first took part in the World Cup in 1934 and reached the semi-finals where they were beaten by Czechoslovakia. Four years later they were knocked out in the first round by Switzerland following a replay and during the war years no tournament took place. The Germans were banned from taking part in 1950 but landed the first of three World Titles in Switzerland in 1954. The Final against Hungary is known in Germany as "The Miracle of Bern"; an earlier match in the group stages of the tournament between the two sides had resulted in an 8-3 victory for the "Magical Magyars" and few doubted that Hungary were destined to become World Champions that year. When they scored twice in the opening eight minutes of the Final another hiding appeared to be on the cards, but in heavy rain the Germans displayed their trademark tenacious qualities to fight back for a 3-2 victory. Their bid to defend the Title four years later was ended by Sweden at the semi-final stage. In the quarter-finals they had knocked out Yugoslavia by a 1-0 scoreline, and in 1962 in Chile the two sides met again at the same stage, but this time with the reverse result. West Germany reached the Final again in 1966 in England but were beaten 4-2 after extra time in a compelling match. In 1970 they participated in what most people agree is the finest World Cup match ever played - the semi-final against Italy at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City for the right to play Brazil in the Final. The Italians prevailed 4-3, with five of the seven goals being scored in the extra time period. On home soil in 1974, despite a shock defeat in the first round group stages to neighbours East Germany, West Germany reached the Final again and faced Holland in Munich. The Dutch were widely regarded as the best team in the world at the time, and took the lead in the first minute of the match. Just as against the Hungarians 20 years earlier, the Germans came back to triumph unexpectedly and win the World Cup for the second time. In Argentina in 1978 West Germany failed to win any of their group matches in the second round, but then made history between 1982 and 1990 by becoming the first team to reach three consecutive World Cup Finals. They finished runners-up at Espana 82 and Mexico 86 to Italy and Argentina respectively, but triumphed at Italia 90 in a repeat Final against the South Americans. In winning that World Cup Franz Beckenbauer became the first European to win football's greatest prize as both a player and a manager. Surprise quarter-final defeats followed for the Germans in the next two World Cups; to Bulgaria at USA 94 and to Croatia at France 98. A interesting statistic prior to the 2002 tournament in Korea/Japan was that Germany had never faced Brazil at the World Cup. They duly met in the Final that year where two goals from Ronaldo condemned the Germans to runners-up spot for the third time in the previous six World Cups. Four years ago, as the host nation for the second time, Germany were under the leadership of legendary player-turned-coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who was seeking to emulate the Beckenbauer feat. The nation started to believe that a repeat of the 1974 triumph could be on the cards after a penalty shootout victory against tournament favourites Argentina in the quarter-finals, but - and not for the first time - German hopes were ended by the Italians in the last four.

Greatest Moment:

Defeating the inventors of "Total Football" - the Dutch - on home soil to win their second World Cup in 1974. As with their first triumph 20 years earlier, Germany proved themselves to be the most powerful of underdogs.

Biggest Heartbreak:

Missing out on a place in the Final four years ago (at home again) when two Italian goals deep into extra time wrecked a nation's dream in a semi-final of the highest quality.

At South Africa 2010 Germany will be competing in their seventeenth World Cup.