Germany 1 England 2

Germany coach Joachim Low has called three new faces into an experimental squad for his country's friendly match with England in Berlin next Wednesday.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack will remain as Germany captain after holding clear-the-air talks with coach Joachim Low.

Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus has sided with current coach Joachim Low in his dispute with captain Michael Ballack.

CHELSEA midfielder Michael Ballack has told Germany coach Joachim Low he will have to consult with his club before they can meet for showdown talks.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Ballack has told Germany coach Joachim Low he will have to consult with his club before they can meet for showdown talks.

Germany coach Joachim Low admits he was shocked by recent criticism from captain Michael Ballack.

Captain Michael Ballack has pulled out of Germany’s squad for Wednesday’s friendly against Belgium after picking up a foot injury yesterday.

DEFENDER Christoph Metzelder does not feel Germany ever managed to find top gear during Euro 2008 and is hoping for an improved showing in the World Cup in two years’ time.

Portugal 2 Germany 3

Outgoing Portugal coach Luiz Felipe Scolari confirmed he would revert to the starting XI which won the first two Group A games for tomorrow’s Euro 2008 quarter-final against Germany before confidently predicting: “I don’t expect it to be my last game”.

Croatia 2 Germany 1

CZECH REPUBLIC booked their spot in next summer’s European Championships last night with a 3-0 victory over Germany in Munich.

GERMAN team manager Oliver Bierhoff has given Steve Staunton his stamp of approval by claiming the Irish manager has earned the right to guide his country through the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

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.

Stephen Elliott has withdrawn from the Irish squad for this weekend's Euro 2008 qualifier against Germany at Croke Park.

Germany coach Joachim Low is warning his side not to become complacent despite being within touching distance of Euro 2008.

Germany 2 Slovakia 1

Germany 6 San Marino 0

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann insists there is “no fixed date” for his future to be sorted out.

STAND-IN strikers Kevin Kuranyi and Mario Gomez led Germany to a 3-1 win over Switzerland in a friendly international last night, but there was bad news for Chelsea as Michael Ballack limped off injured a minute before the break.

Werder Bremen 1 Chelsea 0

GERMANY face arguably their toughest task yet under Joachim Low when they travel to Slovakia looking to add to their four-match unbeaten run.

Chelsea 2 Werder Bremen 0

San Marino 0 Germany 13

Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann made way for long-time rival Oliver Kahn as Germany prepared to take on Portugal in the third-place play-off match in Stuttgart.

THERE is a certain symmetry that the player who got Italy’s World Cup campaign off to a winning start is the same one whose intervention earned them a place in tomorrow’s final against France.

Jurgen Klinsmann’s World Cup dream was destroyed by two Italy goals at the end of extra time as Fabio Grosso and Alessandro Del Piero struck to secure a place in the final.

Italy coach Marcello Lippi sprung no surprises when he named his team for the World Cup semi-final showdown against host nation Germany.

FIFA has suspended Germany midfielder Torsten Frings for tonight’s World Cup semi-final against Italy.

The German FA have expressed their disappointment over FIFA’s decision to suspend Torsten Frings for tomorrow’s World Cup semi-final clash with Italy.

GERMAN midfielder Torsten Frings may miss out on his country’s World Cup semi-final clash with Italy tomorrow, as FIFA announced yesterday that it is to decide whether to punish the influential midfielder.

FIFA’s disciplinary committee is set to investigate the scenes of violence which marred Germany's quarter-final victory over Argentina.

MICHAEL BALLACK believes Germany have a “60-40” chance of beating Argentina in their World Cup quarter-final clash today.

Miroslav Klose insists he is focused on Germany’s World Cup campaign and not on trying to secure a move away from Werder Bremen once the tournament is completed.

AND then there were 16… After all the joy, pain, controversy and cracking goals of a hugely entertaining sequence of group games, the World Cup today goes into knock-out mode, as Germany and Sweden in Munich, and Argentina and Mexico in Leipzig, play for all or nothing in the opening clashes of the second round.

Hamburg completed a notable double over Bayern Munich but it is unlikely to deny the Bavarians another Bundesliga title.

Werder Bremen 3 Juventus 2

VILLARREAL clinched a place in the last 16 of the Champions League in their debut season in the competition after they beat Lille 1-0 in their final match in Group D last night.

Villarreal joined Manchester United’s conquerors Benfica in the last 16 of the Champions League after beating Lille tonight.

Arsene Wenger admitted it is a “miracle” Arsenal are still in Champions League contention as he urged his players to make Bayern Munich pay tomorrow night for their lack of a killer instinct.

Arsene Wenger revealed that Sol Campbell could be ruled out of Arsenal’s Champions League second leg tie against Bayern Munich as their hopes of a remarkable recovery act suffered another blow.

CAPTAIN Raul came to Real Madrid’s rescue when he equalled Alfredo Di Stefano’s record of 49 goals in the European Cup to earn his side a 1-1 draw at home to Bayer Leverkusen last night.