The German team played its last game of 2011 on Tuesday in a friendly against the Netherlands, and coach Joachim Löw can send the team home for the year with a smile on his face.

“Holland was a custom-made opponent,” Löw said in the post-game press conference. “Holland had no chance.”

The team’s 3-0 win in Hamburg was more than just a pride-boosting dressing down of the World Cup runners-up. It was a final confirmation that Löw’s Germany is running like a well-oiled machine heading into next summer’s European Championship.…

Germany survived a scare on Friday as the guests had to come from 3-1 down to seal a 3-3 draw with Euro 2012 co-hosts the Ukraine in a thrilling friendly.

Germany was without a few of its usual players. Captain Philipp Lahm was given the night off, with his captain’s band being passed on to Mario Gomez. Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger, normally a leading playmaker, was out with a broken collarbone.

The team’s stalwart goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, was also not in the lineup, being replaced by Hanover’s 22-year-old keeper, Ron-Robert Zieler, who made his national team debut.…

Germany completed a perfect EURO 2012 qualifying campaign with their tenth win from ten games by beating Belgium 3-1 in Dusseldorf.

Two goals in the space of three first-half minutes from Mesut Ozil and Andre Schurrle put the hosts on course for yet another victory, with Mario Gomez adding a third just after the interval. Marouane Fellaini grabbed a consolation in the 86th minute but it was not enough for Belgium to finish second in Group A.…

Germany cruised to a 3-1 win over Turkey in their Euro 2012 qualifier in Istanbul on Friday night – their ninth-straight win in an impressive group-stage performance.

The Germans had already qualified for the next edition of the Euros, to be hosted by Ukraine and Poland, while Turkey were in desperate need of points to get the edge over their nearest Group A opponents, Belgium.

Bayern Munich trio Mario Gomez, Thomas Mueller and Bastian Schweinsteiger all netted in the win over Turkey.…

A young German side stole a late equalizer against an energetic Poland in an international soccer friendly on Tuesday night to deliver a 2-2 result a avoid a first-ever defeat to their eastern neighbors.

Euro 2012 co-hosts Poland looked to have secured a first win over Germany at the 17th attempt when midfielder Jakub Blaszczykowski – known as Kuba for short – converted a penalty in the 91st minute to make it 2-1.

But in a dramatic finale, German blushes were spared when second-half replacement Thomas Mueller fired in a cross with time almost up to allow Cacau to equalise on 94 minutes as Germany again came from behind.…

Germany trounced Austria 6-2, making them the first team to qualify for the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine next year.

The Germans claimed their eighth straight qualification victory on Friday, giving Löw’s side an unassailable 24 points at the top of Group A, with second-placed Turkey 11 points behind.

The man of the match was Real Madrid midfielder Mesut Özil, who scored three of the goals in the game, although UEFA made a questionable decision to give one of the goals to Miroslav Klose.…

Germany’s young guns proved they are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with as they turned on the style to beat Brazil 3-2 in Stuttgart with rising star Mario Goetze in dazzling form.

In a friendly televised live in 190 countries, Bastian Schweinsteiger opened the scoring from the penalty spot before 19-year-old debutant Goetze and Andre Schuerrle netted for the hosts.…

Australia’s Socceroos shocked Germany 2-1 in Mönchengladbach, taking a measure of revenge for their comprehensive defeat against Joachim Löw’s men in last year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Germany’s perfect record in competitive matches stretches back to their defeat at the hands of Spain in the semifinals in South Africa, yet in friendly matches the side has been anything but stellar.

“I think it can be a question of attitude,” substitute Miroslav Klose said after the match. “One can prepare very well, and then still be a bit too sloppy during the game. We shouldn’t let that happen.”

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