Countdown to South Africa: Spotlight on Germany

Germany are in group D, and will face Australia, Serbia and Ghana at the 2010 World Cup.

First 11

GK. Rene Adler, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, Age at World Cup (AWC) 25.

RB. Philipp Lahm, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 26.

CB. Arne Fridrich, Club- Hertha Berlin, (AWC) 31.

CB. Per Mertesacker, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 25.

LB. Marcell Jansen, Club- Hamburg, (AWC) 24.

RM. Bastian Schweinsteiger, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 25.

CM. Michael Ballack, Club- Chelsea, (AWC) 33.

LM. Piotr Trochowski, Club- Hamburg, (AWC) 26.

CAM. Mesut Ozil, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 21.

ST. Miroslav Klose, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 32.

ST. Lukas Podolski, Club- Koln, (AWC) 25.

Subs

GK. Tim Wiese, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 28.

GK. Manuel Neuer, Club- Schalke 04, (AWC) 24.

RB. Andreas Beck, Club- 1899 Hoffenheim, (AWC) 23.

CB. Serder Tasci, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 23.

CB. Christoph Metzelder, Club- Real Madrid, (AWC) 29.

LB. Heiko Westerman, Club- Schalke 04, (AWC) 26.

CDM. Torsten Frings, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 33.

RM. Roberto Hilbert, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 25.

LM. Thomas Hitzlsperger, Club- VFB Stuttgart, (AWC) 28.

CAM. Marko Marin, Club- Werder Bremen, (AWC) 21.

ST. Mario Gomez, Club- Bayern Munich, (AWC) 24.

ST. Patrick Helmes, Club- Bayer Leverkusen, (AWC) 26.

Agree with my selections?

Have I included someone who doesn't warrant selection?

Have I missed anybody who should be included?

The Coach

Joachim Low has the highest winning percentage (68.8) of any German national team coach. This will be Joachim Low's first appearance at a World Cup as a coach however he does have experience as an assistant coach with Germany at the 2006 World Cup. Before his involvement with the German national team Low coached club sides in Germany, Turkey and Austria.

Germany's Strength's

Whilst Germany are strong all across the field and have good depth, they lack the superstar or two most of their rivals for the World Cup will be able to call upon at South Africa in June and July.

Germany's Weakness

Germany's weakness would be their left flank. This is Germany's weakest area in both of terms of quality and depth.