BERLIN: Five facts about Germany ahead of the European Championship in France, when the world champions will face Northern Ireland, Poland and Ukraine in Group C:
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 the 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 hold the joint record with Spain of having won three European Championships. Die Mannschaft have 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 three defeats.
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 131 matches with 87 victories, 22 draws and 22 defeats. Only Spain’s coach Vicente Del Bosque has a better win-ratio of 80 percent, with 87 victories in his 109 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 them through daily sessions to help them avoid injuries with stretching sessions in France.
