Bundesliga Fanatic

Germany beat Kazakhstan by an aggregate score of 7-1 over two games in their World Cup qualifying double-header.   That scoreline could have been in the double digits had it not been for the post and Kazakhi goalkeeper Sidelnikov in the second match.  Germany are now eight points clear of Austria in second place and [...]

Germany extended their lead at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group C with a routine 4-1 win against Kazakhstan in Nuremberg on Tuesday evening.  Joachim Löw made three enforced changes to the side that coasted to a 3-0 away win on Friday in Astana. Borussia Dortmund’s Ilkay Gündogan replaced the suspended Bastian Schweinsteiger in midfield. [...]

Against Kazakhstan Germany lined up without a recognized striker in a competitive game for the first time in its history. It was a landmark tactical decision that symbolized both a growing talent pool of attacking midfielders in German football and the acclimatization to a generational trend in football tactics. With more and more of these [...]

Germany extended their lead at the top of World Cup Qualifying Group C with a comfortable 3-0 win in Kazakhstan on Friday evening – the very same scoreline achieved on their previous visit in 2010. The trickiest part of the trip to the former Soviet republic may have been actually getting to the world’s ninth [...]

World Cup qualifying resumes for Germany this week with back to back fixtures against Kazakhstan.  Alongside resuming their journey to Brazil, the next couple of games may also signal a significant tactical shift in the team’s development.  For the first time in over a 100 years, Germany could line up without a recognized striker in [...]

Germany kicked off the calendar year with their first win over France in 26 years. Their last win came all the way back in 1987 when two goals from Rudi Völler topped a French side in Berlin that featured a young Eric Cantona.  It’s only their second win in France as a matter of fact, [...]

Sweden’s incredible and historic comeback against Germany on Tuesday will no doubt add fuel to an already fiery debate about the National Team’s supposed mental frailty and Löw’s ability to truly reach their potential. Images of despair and disbelief have become commonplace in German football over the years, whether it was Bayern’s dramatic and unexpected [...]

At the EUROs this summer Per Mertesacker played his role as a squad player admirably.  He supported the team and helped out wherever he could.  Now Mertesacker is back.  At Arsenal he has established himself in central defense and for the National Team he played all 90 minutes alongside Holger Badstuber in their impressive performance [...]

Joachim Löw managed to raise a few eyebrows last week when the Germany squad for the pair of World Cup qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland and Sweden was announced; the most notable being the omission of HSV goalkeeper Rene Adler, who has been the Bundesliga’s best goalkeeper so far this season.  However, an injury [...]

Germany maintained their 26 year unbeaten run against their regional rivals with a bumpy win in Vienna.  Goals from Reus and Özil just edged out a very dangerous Austria who caused the visitors a lot of difficulties.  Despite what may seem like two unsatisfying performances, Germany are off to a good start on the road [...]