It is almost too cliched to seem possible; the manager of the American national side spending his free time driving a VW camper van driving from beach to beach, looking for the perfect surf spot.

Jon Walters has been forced to withdraw from Ireland’s squad to face Germany and Kazakhstan after a negative assessment on a groin problem following his substitution in Stoke City’s 1-0 loss to Fulham on Saturday.

The Champions League final traditionally ends the football season across Europe, but it doesn’t feel that way this year.

Germany boss Joachim Loew is in the frame to be Arsenal’s next manager, with Arsene Wenger’s current deal expiring next summer, according to reports.

Ireland’s Group C rivals Germany eased past lowly Kazakhstan 3-0 last night without deploying any strikers for the first time in a competitive match under coach Joachim Loew as they stayed top of the group.

We love our ‘eras’ in football.

The press conference room in the bowels of the Aviva Stadium has housed many a pantomime moment over its short life, but never was there a chance of Joachim Loew adding to the theatrics.

Giovanni Trapattoni has placed Richard Dunne on standby for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands but the Republic of Ireland manager has admitted that it will be a “miracle” if the centre-half is fit in time.

By the time Giovanni Trapattoni finished reading out his 23-man squad for next month’s World Cup qualifiers against Germany and the Faroe Islands yesterday, 17 of the names had been on duty in Poland during the summer.

Germany captain Philipp Lahm has branded the mole leaking team line-ups to the media as a “disgrace” and admits the spy could be damaging their chances of winning Euro 2012.

Germany coach Joachim Loew is confident his team will find a way through what he expects to be a wall of Greece players protecting their own penalty area in tonight’s Euro 2012 quarter-final.

Mario Gomez has long since been one of the world’s best strikers and not just because he has scored three goals so far at Euro 2012, according to his team-mate Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Oliver Bierhoff has called for his team to break the habit of their traditional second-game slump when the new tournament favourites Germany face the Netherlands in tonight’s Euro 2012 clash.

Germany coach Joachim Loew felt Mario Gomez’s winning goal in the Euro 2012 victory over Portugal justified his decision to start with the Bayern Munich striker ahead of Miroslav Klose.

Will Cristiano Ronaldo be crowned king of Europe by claiming the tournament’s Golden Boot?

For many it will be a summer to savour. For an unlucky minority though, Euro 2012 will bring only despair and frustration as, for one reason or another, they won’t be there, says Darren Norris

Switzerland 5 Germany 3

My hitherto cast-iron conviction that Germany will win Euro 2012 took a hell of a beating in Munich on Saturday night.

Schalke’s Julian Draxler and Borussia Monchengladbach goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen are the only uncapped players in Germany coach Joachim Loew’s provisional squad selection for Euro 2012 that has been unveiled today.

FABIO CAPELLO was relieved to avoid the difficult Group B at Euro 2012 and content with England’s “balanced” Group D draw.

Germany coach Joachim Loew has defended his captain Philipp Lahm ahead of their World Cup semi-final encounter against Spain in Durban later today.

WAYNE ROONEY, who went into this match in the form of his life and hailed as ‘unstoppable’, ended it injured and in despair – and now Manchester United’s rivals, and in particular Saturday’s opponents Chelsea, must be wondering if the bubble has burst.

GERMANY’S football stars, including Michael Ballack and Jurgen Klinsmann, joined tens of thousands of mourning fans in Hanover on Sunday to pay their last respects to tragic goalkeeper Robert Enke.

GERMANY coach Joachim Loew has insisted Jens Lehmann speaks to his Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger about his lack of first-team action.

GERMANY, playing within themselves, did just enough to get what they needed.

THIS week we have been offered a glimpse as to how the other half live.

OLIVER KAHN has renewed his rivalry with Jens Lehmann despite being retired from international football.

POLAND moved a step closer to qualifying for Euro 2008 after a goalless draw against a Finland side that could still join them in Switzerland and Austria.

ENGLAND coach Steve McClaren has challenged Paul Robinson to be “tough enough” to withstand the criticism that has accompanied his miserable Wembley howler.

LAWRIE SANCHEZ’ no-show for the post-match press conference may have hogged the headlines on Wednesday, but the bigger question is: where was Giampaolo Mazza?

GERMANY crushed San Marino with a record 13-0 win last night as striker Lukas Podolski scored four in the Euro 2008 Group D qualifier.

PLAYED one, won one. On the face of it, Saturday was everything the Germans wanted from their first Group D qualifier but Michael Ballack was far from happy with his side’s display in Stuttgart.

Reading striker Kevin Doyle was handed his first competitive start for the Republic of Ireland in their opening European Championship qualifier.

STEVE STAUNTON may be the third man to assume the role of Ireland manager since Jack Charlton but the Englishman’s legacy was alive and well yesterday in the city where he masterminded perhaps his most memorable triumph 18 years ago.

Republic of Ireland manager Steve Staunton described the situation that severely disrupted preparations ahead of his side’s vital European Championship opener against Germany as “shocking”.

KEVIN KILBANE is adamant that his immediate future lies with Everton, despite an attempt by Fulham manager Chris Coleman to sign the Republic of Ireland international before the transfer deadline expires at midnight tonight.

GERMANY will risk losing Michael Ballack to suspension in tonight’s game against Ecuador in the hope of maintaining their momentum and clinching top spot in Group A to avoid England in the second round.

GERMANY have major defensive problems ahead of tomorrow night’s Group D qualifier against Ireland.