Germany go into Euro 2012 among thefavourites, but this time it has less to do with past successes and more to do with their modern game that has won over legions of new fans.
The three-time European champions have been without a major trophy for 16 years, despite being tagged favourites at most tournaments since 1996.
This time round, however, their Euro group rivals, - Netherlands, Portugal and Denmark - will come up against one of the youngest, fastest and most furious German teams in at least a generation.
Players like Thomas Mueller, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer quickly made a name for themselves at the 2010 World Cup with a dazzling display of fast-paced football and lethal finishing that saw them crush England 4-1 and Argentina 4-0 en route to a third-place finish.
The vast majority of coach Joachim Loew's players were just youngsters when Oliver Bierhoff, now the team's manager, scored a golden goal to hand Germany the Euro trophy in 1996.
Many of them were mere toddlers when Franz Beckenbauer coached the national side to their last of their three World Cup wins in 1990.
"It is clear that Germany go into such tournaments always as favourites," Loew said. "But it is also clear that there is not just one favourite, not just Germany. I have often said there is Spain, Italy, France, they are all among those capable of winning it."
BIG WINS
On a good day Germany have shown they can beat any defence, having won all 10 of their Euro qualifiers and scored victories in friendlies over big names like Brazil, Netherlands and Uruguay in the past months.
"We have learned to take possession of the ball as quickly as possible. Our game has become more modern," said captain Philipp Lahm, at 28 one of the oldest in a team that also includes teenager Mario Goetze. "Of course, Spain remain the favourites."
Defensively, Germany have more options than ever with Borussia Dortmund's Mats Hummels adding steel in the centre of defence where Arsenal's Per Mertesacker looks to be in danger of losing his starting spot after damaging his ankle and foot playing for Arsenal in February. Dortmund's Marcel Schmelzer is also set to make the squad.
Loew has an impressive luxury of choice in midfield where Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger have forged an efficient holding partnership.
Goetze, 19, and Real Madrid playmaker Ozil have combined well with Toni Kroos, bringing skills that mesh perfectly with the pace of Lukas Podolski, Thomas Mueller, Marco Reus and Andre Schuerrle on the wings.
Lars and Sven Bender have also worked themselves into contention with the twins available for all-round midfield assignments.
GOMEZ GOALS
Bundesliga top scorer Mario Gomez has blossomed into a formidable weapon over the past two seasons with the Bayern Munich forward scoring at will in the Bundesliga and the Champions League.
Forward Miroslav Klose will also vie for the starting spot in Loew's 4-2-3-1 system, looking to crack Gerd Mueller's all-time Germany goal record of 68. Klose has 63 goals from 114 international appearances.
"We have the luxury of having almost every position covered twice," Loew said.
A 2-1 defeat by France in February did little to dampen enthusiasm in the football-mad country who see their team ready to win yet another trophy.
Friendlies against Switzerland and Israel ahead of the Euro tournament in Poland and Ukraine are aimed at fine-tuning preparations with a training camp in Italy set for May 11.
What could pose problems for Loew is that more than a dozen of his players will be in action at the German Cup final on May 12 in Berlin as Bayern Munich face Dortmund.
Ozil, Khedira and Klose will also not be able to join them from the start as the leagues in Spain and Italy will not have finished yet.
With Bayern Munich also in the Champions League final on May 19 Loew will have to wait even longer for some eight players including Lahm, Gomez and Schweinsteiger, although Badstuber is suspended for the game against Chelsea.
"I would be happy for Bayern to reach the final, but it would affect our preparation," Loew said before Bayern knocked Real Madrid out of the Champions League to reach the final.
"It would be ideal to start Euro preparations with the full squad," he said, although a Bayern victory could be the first part of a golden double this summer.
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