Germany
Germany have competed in every World Cup apart from in 1930 and 1950 and qualified for the 2006 tournament as hosts.
They have won the World Cup three times as West Germany - a record equalled only by Italy and bettered only by Brazil, who have won it five times. In the last 10 World Cups, Germany have reached the final six times.
Germany World Cup profile continues below
The manager, Jurgen Klinsmann, has come under criticism recently because he lives in California and in a lot of fans' opinions, doesn’t spend enough time with the team. However, with no qualifying matches, he hasn’t really had a chance to prove the critics wrong.
Michael Ballack, who is also the captain, is clearly ahead of his team-mates in class, and he led them to the final in 2002. However, a calf strain will keep Ballack out of, at least, Germany's first game.
Klinsmann has brought a much more attacking style of play to the German national squad, and with it, goals. But they lack experience at the back, and therefore concede almost as many goals as they score.
Germany are ranked 16th in the world, but they have the massive advantage of playing at home - you should never write them off!
Germany got off to a good start beating Costa Rica 4-2 and Philip Lahm got the first goal of the 2006 World Cup with a cracking shot after just six minutes.
Germany followed up by beating Poland 1-0 thanks to a last minute goal from substitute Oliver Neuville.
Germany then beat Ecuador 3-0 to top Group A and ensured a last 16 match against Sweden, whom they went on to beat 2-0 thanks to two goals from Lukas Podolski.
Germany had a tough quarter-final battle against Argentina, which ended 1-1 after extra time. In the shoot-out, Germany hit their penalties well, and with Lehman saving from Ayala and Cambiasso, the hosts went through to the semis 4-2 on penalties.
The Germany - Italy semi-final was a classic match full of quality that looked to be headed to penalties but Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero scored deep in extra-time for the Italians to defeat Germany 2-0.
Germany managed to beat Portugal 3-1 to win the third place.
Germany World Cup Squad (by shirt number): 1. Jens Lehmann 2. Marcell Jansen 3. Arne Friedrich 4. Robert Huth 5. Sebastian Kehl 6. Jens Nowotny 7. Bastian Schweinsteiger 8. Torsten Frings 9. Mike Hanke 10. Oliver Neuville 11. Miroslav Klose 12. Oliver Kahn 13. Michael Ballack 14. Gerald Asamoah 15. Thomas Hitzlsperger 16. Philip Lahm 17. Per Mertesacker 18. Tim Borowski 19. Bernd Schneider 20. Lukas Podolski 21. Christoph Metzelder 22. David Odonkor 23. Timo Hildebrand
Germany World Cup profile by Ben Rosenbaum
