The Bundesliga season has only entered its third match day, but already the race for the Number 1 jersey in South Africa has heated up again. Timo Hildebrand has declared his intention to compete for a place in South Africa, despite Joachim Löw’s insistence that only Robert Enke, Tim Wiese, René Adler, and Manuel Neuer [...]

Summer is almost over and Germany returns to Asia – no wait far-eastern Europe according to UEFA.
The trip to Azerbaijan, further east in longitude than the UAE, is not yet another crazy promotion by the DFB. Germany plays a double-header against Azerbaijan for World Cup Qualifying 2010. Löw reportedly did not want to make any [...]

Sport Bild has reported that Kevin-Prince Boateng (22 Berlin) has opted to play for Ghana in the future. The nephew of legendary Germany striker Helmut Rahn stated that there is no negative reason for his decision, but he believes that there is no chance for him to play for the national setup anymore.
I am [...]

Arsene Wenger is in talks to sign Stuttgart midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger (27). Apparently Joachim Löw and Wenger are drinking the same water. In all honesty, Arsenal has been in need of an experienced central midfielder and despite my reservations about “The Hammer” he has made some classy contributions to the Germany setup. Hitzlsperger is [...]

The video speaks for itself, but I must say our U21 would give our senior team a run for their money. I honestly have not seen a German defense so well organized since 1996. There will be at long last no more Huth or Westermann (who in my mind is squarely at fault for [...]

Patrick Helmes will be out for about six months after he tore ligaments in his knee while playing sports on vacation. He underwent surgery Friday and will likely miss all the rest of Germany’s World Cup Qualifiers and a good half of the 2009/2010 Bundesliga season. All the best to him for a full recovery. [...]

Jermaine Jones (27) is the first player to take advantage of the new rules established by the FIFA Congress coming into effect this August. The dual-nationality Schalke midfielder had felt his chances of breaking into the German setup were limited and thus has officially opted to switch allegiances to US Soccer. The DFB has basically [...]

It has been seven years since the national team was last in Asia. The current team manager Oliver Bierhoff was still playing for Germany, Jürgen Klinsmann was still retired in California, Michael Ballack and Miroslav Klose were two young players amongst a relatively unknown German selection, and the only hope for Germany and Bundestrainer Rudi [...]

So here it is. Good to finally see Neuer, though it makes me wonder why only him out of the U21. Otherwise, no real surprises considering Wolfsburg is top and Löw seems to be around for a lot of Stuttgart matches.

Tor
Robert Enke ? (Hannover 96), Manuel Neuer (FC Schalke 04)
Abwehr
Arne Friedrich ?? (Hertha [...]

Germany will not be in World Cup Qualifier action until late August. In the meantime the DFB has prepared an Asia promotional tour for the end of May and early June.
Since Werder Bremen and Bayer Leverkusen will be contesting the DFB Cup and Chelsea are favorites to win the (English) FA Cup, the National-Elf will [...]