Germany

Rank: 2 World Cup appearances: 17 tournaments Best result: Champions (1954, 1974, 1990) Top SCORERS (QUALIFYING) Mesut Ozil (8) For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Did you know? Germany was not impressed by Brazil's existing facilities, and therefore created a complex which is named Campo Bahia. After the World Cup, Campo Bahia will be used as a sport and nature resort.

After coming close in big tournaments in recent years, Germany are now under pressure to finally deliver at the World Cup and end a 16-year title drought.
While holders Spain and hosts Brazil start as the pre-tournament favourites, Germany can never be discounted in a major competition and are driven by an ambition to be the first non-South American team to clinch the trophy on the continent.
Drawn with Ghana, who they beat in the group stage four years ago, United States led by former Germany coach Juergen Klinsmann and Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal, the Germans are expected to finish in the top two with few problems.
As success-starved German fans pile pressure on the team, coach Joachim Loew has said only those players at the peak of their game will make the trip across the Atlantic.
Loew has created one of the most exciting teams to watch since taking over in 2006 with fast-paced passing and an attacking game capable of shattering any defence in a split second. Klose, equal on 68 goals for his country alongside Gerd Mueller and set to pass that record soon, has only recently returned from injury.
He has opted at times to play with Goetze in a lone striker role, emulating Spain, who often do not deploy an out-and-out forward but rather an offensive midfielder in that position, although the move has had limited success.

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STRENGTH
The midfield
Their midfield is among the best in the world, oozing talent with Mesut Ozil, Thomas Mueller, Marco Reus, Mario Goetze, Andre Schuerrle and Toni Kroos to name a few.
With captain Philipp Lahm looking set for a permanent switch to a holding midfield position alongside Bastian Schweinsteiger, who is hitting top form after a long injury break, there is even more experience there.
Fluidity
Germany press well and attempt to minimise the time the opposition have on the ball. Loew allows fluidity in his 4-2-3-1 formation and encourages his players to interchange at will.

WEAKNESS
Injuries
The absence of playmaker Ilkay Guendogan, nursing a back injury since August, could be a blow for Loew who has also injury concerns regarding strikers Miroslav Klose and Mario Gomez.
Backline
Loew's biggest concern is the backline which has lost its stability.
Mats Hummels, a long way from top form after missing for several months, and Per Mertesacker have yet to impress as the central partnership.
With left-back Marcel Schmelzer also out injured and Lahm leaving his right-back position, the Germany defence could prove their Achilles heel.

Mario Gotze: Young, pacey and lethal, Gotze represents the essence of this attack-minded German team.

ONE TO WATCH
Mario Goetze
Midfielder Mario Goetze has seen his reputation and career skyrocket in the past four years, winning Bundesliga titles and becoming Germany coach Joachim Loew's secret weapon.
Audacious in his game and with the ability to score from any position, Goetze, who is equally effective in slicing open defences with close-range passing, embodies these virtues.
With forwards Mario Gomez and Miroslav Klose nursing injuries for much of the season and fellow midfielder Mesut Ozil going through something of a slump in form, Goetze looks certain to be Germany's driving force in attack at the finals.
Goetze has been equally impressive for Bayern this season and formed a formidable attacking partnership with Germany team mate Thomas Mueller.
Adding winger Marco Reus to the equation means Goetze can unfurl all of his offensive talents, having two wingers who constantly shift positions and can wreak havoc after a chip, flick or pass from the young midfielder.

Coach: Joachim Loew
Germany coach Joachim Loew knows there is much more at stake at the World Cup than simply ending his country's 18-year title drought in a major competition.
The finals in Brazil could represent the softly-spoken 54-year-old's last chance to lift a trophy with the national team, despite having a contract until 2016.
With a superb record of 70 victories against 15 defeats in 102 internationals, Loew has a better win-loss ratio than any of his predecessors dating back to 1978.

Squad
Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)
Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich)
Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Christoph Kramer (Borussia Moenchengladbach), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich)
Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio)