--Will Them make it till The END....? For The Champion!--

Dealing with pressure has never really been a problem for the German national team, which is just as well given their status as tournament favourites going into the 2008 European Championships.

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A quick glance at the record books reveals that Germany boast one of the richest and most successful footballing heritages in the game, both before and after reunification in October 1990.

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West Germany have won the World Cup three times in (1954, 1974 and 1990) and finished as runners-up three times (1966, 1982 and 1986), they won the European Championships twice (1972 and 1980) and finished as runners-up (1976). Since reunification Germany have finished as European Championship runners-up in 1992, won the tournament in 1996 and finished as World Cup runners-up in 2002.

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Germany : The FACTS

• Nickname: Die Nationalelf

• FIFA ranking: 5

• Manager: Joachim Löw

• Key Player: Lukas Podolski

• Captain: Michael Ballack

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European Championship record

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• 1960 - Did not enter, (W.Germany)

• 1964 - Did not enter, (W.Germany)

• 1968 - Did not qualify, (W.Germany)

• 1972 - Champions, (W.Germany)

• 1976 - Finalist, (W.Germany)

• 1980 - Champions, (W.Germany)

• 1984 - Round 1, (W.Germany)

• 1988 - Semi-finalist, (W.Germany)

• 1992 - Finalist

• 1996 - Champions

• 2000 - Round 1

• 2004 - Round 1

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• Team Gallery

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~http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=535540&root=euro2008&cc=4716