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急求一篇关于德国队征战本届欧洲杯的相关英语文章

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Answer 1

Bookmakers Favor Germany to Win EURO 2008
The German national football team wants to end a dismal 12-year run without a win when the EURO 2008 football championships start this weekend. Bookmakers have every confidence they will, making them favorites to clinch a fourth European title.

The bookmakers' favorite: Will Germany triumph at Euro 2008?
You have to go back 12 long years since Germany last won a game at the European championships: Oliver Bierhoff's extra-time goal in the final of EURO 1996 in England against the Czech Republic sealed the victory for Germany and the country's third European championship title.

Since then, Germany has lost three matches and drawn three during its last two campaigns to win at Europe's biggest sporting event. Despite this dismal run, Germany is now the favorite with bookmakers to win the competition this year.

The high expectations of a German victory are in large part down to the luck of the draw -- the team will be playing against a weak lineup of countries during early matches, gifting the side a seemingly easy run to the quarterfinal. In the group stage the three-time champions take on Poland (more...), a team they have never lost to in 16 games, followed by Croatia who only beat them once in seven meetings and then co-hosts Austria whose last victory against Germany goes back to 1986.

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EURO 2008 live results and match fixtures. And even if Germany cruise through the group stage, they will be spared from playing some of the other big sides -- at least until the final: World Cup champions Italy, France and the Netherlands are all in a different half of the draw.

"The reason why Germany is the favorite is that they have the easiest way through to the semifinal," Graham Sharpe, media relations director of British bookmaker William Hill, told SPIEGEL ONLINE. The bookmaker has set the chances of another German triumph at 4:1. Spain and Italy are second and third favorites, respectively.

The punters seem to agree with those predictions: On Betfair, the world's largest Internet betting exchange, the three countries are also the pre-tournament favorites.

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Another factor that might boost Germany's chances is that many of the matches will feel like home games. According to the AP, there will be 9,900 German fans in the 30,000 seater Klagenfurt stadium for the first game against Poland on Sunday. The organizers expect another 25,000 Germans, who do not have tickets, to cross the border into Austria, just to be in the Austrian town for the game.

Many Germans will be hoping their team will repeat their performance from the 2006 World Cup when their side, playing on home soil, played some attractive attacking football and came in third. According to a recent survey, carried out by FORSA for the German weekly Stern, 35 percent of those questioned believed their national side would win the European championships.

Germans' hopes will once again rest on the shoulders of their influential captain, midfielder Michael Ballack (more...), who after a long injury spell has returned close to his best form. Germany also has a wealth of talent in attack -- with Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose, Lukas Podolski and Kevin Kuranyi expected to score plenty of goals.

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But questions remain about Germany's defense, as central defender Christopher Metzelder has been sidelined most of the year with a foot injury and Torsten Frings, another experienced defender, also battled with injury last season. Another weak link in the team could be goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who spent most of last season on the bench at London's Arsenal after losing the No. 1 spot. Although an excellent goalkeeper, he is prone to making horrific howlers.

Despite the team's defensive weaknesses, Germany national team coach Joachim Löw is confident about their chances. "We are one of the favourites," he told German sports news agency SID. "We proved that by our third place at the World Cup and a successful qualifying campaign. But for me Italy and Spain are, of course, also among the top favorites. Everyone is able to beat everyone else at the European Championships. The quality is simply very high and there is not much between any of the teams."

Germany’s road to Euro 2008

The preliminary round has been handed out and the road ahead for Miroslav Klose & Co. is not an easy task to sort through. Opening day starts on June 7, 2008. Germany has drawn Group B to go against Austria, Croatia and Poland.

The good news for Germany is that their staff should be back on full when the time comes for these matches. Michael Ballack has already started playing again, as has Philipp Lahm. Bastian Schweinsteiger is nursing a knee injury currently, but will be well over that, assuming he doesn’t take another knock before the Euro’s start. And with any luck, Bernd Schneider will be fit and Jogi will have just as many capable reserves as he has first team members.

The Germans will have a rough road and will have to prove themselves once more, but Jogi Loew and company are more than capable. This is going to be an exciting round to say the least.

Answer 2

Germany fit to go all the way

American fitness coach Shad Forsythe is sure Germany have the "physical fitness they need to win the title" as they face a crucial tie against Austria.

Fit side
After winning their opening game against Poland 2-0, Joachim Löw's side went down 2-1 against Group B winners Croatia, and must now get the better of the co-hosts in Vienna on Monday if they are to progress to the last eight. Forsythe, who works on fitness along with with Oliver Schmidtlein, is sure they have the stamina to win that game and more. "Our players have learned from the mistakes made in the Croatia game and are determined not to make them again," he said. "We have a chance to win this tournament and I have every faith in my team. This side definitely have the physical fitness they need to win the title."

Dual role
Forsythe says his job has two key facets at a finals tournament. "The main problem for us fitness trainers is that we basically have two different teams to prepare for the games," he said. "On one side we have that part of the squad who have played and on the other side, those who were rested. The preparation phase is of course very different for both groups. One group you need to motivate and get fired up and for the others it's about recharging the batteries and getting them re-energized in time for the next game. We are doing everything in our power to ensure the players will be up for the task on Monday. They are working concertedly on their shortcomings and doing some work on the exercise bikes to regenerate, taking ice-baths, doing some stretching, some aerobics or specialised exercises."

Ballack impresses
Some players, of course, are fitter than others, and for Forsythe, one Germany star stands above all others in terms of fitness, though he is not short of competition. "If you take a look at the players' statistical ratings, also from their league games, then it is clear to see that Michael Ballack, in the English Premier League, covers more ground and makes more sprints than any other player," he said. "With that in mind, I would say he is one of the fittest at the tournament. There are others too, such as Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose, Mario Gómez and Torsten Frings who are in excellent physical condition."