World Champions Germany Aim For Euro Glory

Five facts about Germany ahead of the European Championships in France:

Beware the Azzurri

Germany are still waiting for a first win over Italy at a major tournament in nine meetings -- they have won none of their three matches at European championship finals, or five at a World Cup, against the Azzurri.

At France 2016, the two European powerhouses could potentially meet in the quarter-finals.

Early European exits

Germany have advanced to the knockout stages in every one of their World Cup appearances, but in European Championship they have suffered group stage exits three times: finishing third in their section in 1984 and 2004, and bottom in 2000.

Record holders

Germany holds the joint record with Spain of three European championships. Die Mannschaft has won 23 of their 43 finals matches, more than any other team.

Despite their excellent record, Germany failed to win a finals match between winning the Euro '96 final in London and beating Poland in Klagenfurt in 2008 with three draws and a defeat.

Loew's strong record

Joachim Loew will have been head coach of Germany for a decade after Euro 2016 and has won 66 percent of his 129 matches with 86 victories, 23 draws and 20 defeats. Only Spain's coach Vicente Del Bosque has a better win-ratio of 78 percent, with 75 victories in his 96 matches, of the top coaches at Euro 2016.

Yoga masters

Germany are set to be the only team at Euro 2016 to have a yoga teacher in their back-room staff. Munich-based yoga guru Patrick Broome, who has worked with music stars Madonna and Sting in the US, will take die Mannschaft through daily sessions to help them avoid injuries with stretching sessions in France.