Euro 2004: Germany hope to bring back glory

New Delhi:

Germany is the team that has won the most titles - three times world champions and three times European champions. But those days when Germany were overwhelming favourites are part of history. This time they come into Euro 2004 in Portugal looking anything but a champion team. The Germans will head into the European Championship in Portugal with a poor track record. Their qualification wasn't sealed till the last Group match and defeats in friendlies at the hands of Romania and Hungary have left Coach Rudi Voleer with quite a headache. However it's also wise to never count out the Germans especially since they have players of the calibre of Michel Ballack. He missed the 2002 World Cup final because of suspension, but will certainly want to make up for that disappointment. If Ballack can reproduce the kind of form that made Bayern Munich shell out 13 million Euros for him, then Miroslav Klose will have no problem heading in goals - he had a total of five at the World Cup and all of them were headers. In Oliver Kahn, Germany can definitely lay claim to having the best keeper in the world. Kahn almost single handedly got Germany to the World Cup final with some brilliant saves. However he chose the first game to slip up in the world cup final and Ronaldo made him pay for it. Germany begin the EURO 2004 campaign in Group D against great rivals Holland, the Czech Republic and Latvia. They are three time winners of the tournament and have finished as runners up twice as well. They also have three World Cup titles to their credit in 1954, 1974 and 1990. However it's been far too long since their last international triumph. Oliver Bierhoff's golden goal at EURO 96 against the Czech Republic giving them the last of their Euro titles.