Lord Stan The Man

A lot of potential German World Cup championship parades have been rained on since 2002.

On Wednesday, Germany will have a chance to advance to the World Cup final with a win over tournament-favorite Spain. A victory in this rematch of the UEFA Euro 2008 Final would obviously put the Germans in great position to win the world’s biggest sporting event. It would also solidify Miroslav Klose & Co. as the most consistent international football squad of the most recent decade, and a win in the subsequent final would make the Germans the unquestioned best team of the past ten years.

Germany has now reached the World Cup semifinal in three straight tournaments, including a final-game berth in 2002. The team had a poor showing at UEFA Euro 2004, but it was the runner-up at Euro 2008.

Most pundits did not expect an amazing showing in South Africa for the Germans, who were forced to play the tournament without injured veteran star Michael Ballack. But with an aggressive style, Germany has taken the tournament by force, winning its group before toppling England and Argentina in very impressive fashions.

No other squad matches Germany’s consistency in the world’s top tournament since 2002. Brazil won the World Cup in 2002, but exited in the quarterfinals in both 2006 and 2010. The Italians were the winners in 2006, but they were knocked out in the Round of 16 in 2002, and failed to reach the knockout round this year. Spain has been good as of late, but didn’t make a substantial run in a major tournament until winning Euro 2008.

Of course the Germans hardly want to be remembered as soccer’s version of the early 90s Buffalo Bills when it comes to winning the big game. While the Mannschaft has performed at an excellent level for the past ten years, the team has not won a major tournament. They have come close, but have not left with a trophy.

Many often overlook Germany when it comes to the big tournaments, even though the squad is traditionally one of the most successful. Brazil, Argentina and Spain all have the star power, and England has its overzealous media coupled with a cast of players more suited for reality television than a World Cup. Somewhere, Germany gets lost in the shuffle.

Yet with two victories, the Germans will be recognized as the decade’s best international team. But just like they have been on so many occasions, Germany is so close, yet so far, to claiming that title. A loss in the semifinal or final will leave the Germans with a familiar empty feeling of falling just short, at least until another run begins at Euro 2012.


You can e-mail Stanley at lordstantheman@gmail.com with any comments or questions. Stanley writes a Detroit Lions blog for NFL.com's Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com.