Germany NT - NEWS thread

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Germany striker Ashkan Dejagah has pulled out of the national Under 21 squad to play Israel on Friday for political reasons.

The Iranian-born star, who grew up in Berlin, told coach Dieter Eilts that he did not want to make the trip to the Middle East due to the ongoing tension between Israel and Iran.

"I have more Iranian blood than German blood in my veins and people just have to accept that," the Wolfsburg striker told BZ.

"And besides I am doing it out of respect - my parents are Iranian after all."

Eilts said he accepted the striker's decision but Germany president Theo Zwanziger was far from happy with Dejagah's move.

"We can't accept players deciding not to play in matches as a result of their world-view or religion," Zwanziger told Bild.

"We are not forcing anyone to play for Germany. Every player wearing our shirt must identify himself with our country and its values, otherwise we will have to make do without him in the squad."

Sky Sports | Football | Bundesliga | News | Dejagah refuses Israel trip

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Ashkan Dejagah's future as a Germany international is in doubt after he refused to play in Israel.

The Iranian-born Wolfsburg midfielder pulled out of an Under 21 match in Tel Aviv last Friday, saying he feared for the safety of relatives in Iran if he played in Israel.

The German Football Federation (DFB) has said his 'personal reasons' for not making the trip were acceptable, but the leading Jewish organisation in Germany has called for Dejagah to be dropped from the Under 21 squad.

The Central Council of Jews in Germany have taken this stance because Iran does not recognise Israel's right to exist.

DFB president Theo Zwanziger has now made it clear to Dejagah that he had responsibilities if he wanted to continue to play for Germany.

"I will make it a little harder for him and try to impress on him the sense of responsibility that a German national player must show," Zwanziger said in Die Welt newspaper.

Zwanziger added that the outcome of a discussion with Dejagah could determine whether he ever plays for Germany again.

Germany coach Joachim Low has also voiced his disappointment with Dejagah's decision not to play in Israel.

Low said: "I know the political problems. Basically I hoped and expected that for sporting reasons, a German Under 21 player would have made a different decision.

"I have to be quite clear on that point."

Dejagah holds both an Iranian and German passport and still has the right to switch allegiance and play for the country of his birth at senior level.

Sky Sports | Football | Bundesliga | News | Dejagah future in doubt

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Der Kaiser told DFB - Deutscher Fußball-Bund e.V. - *Startseite that the German national side has now eclipsed the likes of Italy, France and England to become Europe's best...

Franz 'Kaiser' Beckenbauer believes that the Nationalelf is currently the best in Europe, with Germans now outweighing World Champions Italy, runners-up France, and more.

"Germany are both the best and the most consistent team in Europe at the moment," he told the German FA's website at dfb.de.

"They've maintained and even improved on their level of play since last year's World Cup," he added, reflecting on the home team's semi-final showing in the tournament that he helped bring to Germany.

The former West Germany and Bayern Munich coach continued, "Other top teams like Italy, France and England have begun to slacken a bit - some are even having trouble qualifying."

Joachim Löw's men, meanwhile, have no such issues, having secured their appearance in Austria-Switzerland with a 0-0 draw in Dublin against the Republic of Ireland on Saturday.

The new coach, who took over from Juergen Klinsmann last summer, has won 12 of his 15 games in charge of the Nationalelf.

Der Kaiser, the only man to win World Cups as both team captain and later as coach, sees no reason why this can't continue in next summer's Euro 2008 under the young manager.

"The team has taken a giant step forward and now look like championship material," he smiled.

"It would be great for them if Löw could stay longer. At the moment, he and his assistants are the best at their system."

Germany take on the Czech Republic in Munich on Wednesday in a qualifier that, while meaningless for the home team, could determine the fate of the rest of the qualification hopefuls in Group D.

Goal.com - Germany - Beckenbauer: Germany Are Europe's Finest Team

[BlackNess]

I really don't like these kind of announcements , Germany was and always will be a surprise .

LOOK At the last 3 big compititions .

In 2002 , no one was imagining that our NT will win in a 'little' 1 - 0 with there Legerndary goalkeeper and go to the finals .

In 2004 we were a complete joke , I thought that we will win the cup after the 2002 WC performance .

2006 . The Young team with Mertesaker Schwieni Poldi those who were 21 / 22 years Old , gave a good fight to the Full star NT's .

so i really don't like this Announcement .

[Oliver_Kahn]

^ :S

It's true, Germany are at the moment the best team in Europe, certainly not the most spectacular but definately the most effecient.

[Poldi]

^Germany is now the first in Europe and probable in the world! Not to spectacular but very effecient like Kahn said.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Well Hanke does have a point about Helmes not playing that well this season, but Germany already have way too many targetmen, players like Helmes and Kiessling are needed.

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Wolfsburg midfielder Ashkan Dejagah has defended his recent decision to withdraw from the German U-21 squad to play Israel.

The 21 year old turned down the chance to play for the U-21 side in their match in Tel Aviv for alledged political reasons. Both his parents are Iranian, and he also possesses an Iranian passport.

However, Dejagah has claimed he was not making a stance in defence of Iran, but merely following the wishes of his parents.

"The whole situation had nothing to do with me personally, but I did it for my family" he told Stern.

"I have not been to Iran for five or six years, but my parents regularly visit relatives in Tehran."

Dejagah added that he hopes his decision, which caused an uproar in Germany, will not damage his chances of playing for Germany in future.

"It is always a great feeling to play for Germany and it is still my aim to play for the senior team and be involved in a World Cup for Germany” he said.

"I had requests to play for Iran, which I could have done up to my 21st birthday, but I never even considered it."

Goal.com - Germany - Dejagah Defends Israel Withdrawl

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Timo Hildebrand has accepted that Jens Lehmann will be Germany's first-choice goalkeeper at Euro 2008.

The Valencia keeper will deputise for the suspended Lehmann when Germany take on Czech Republic in a Euro 2008 qualifier on Wednesday.

But Hildebrand does not believe he will get ahead of Lehmann in the pecking order regardless of what happens over the next few months.

"The goalkeeping hierarchy has been set and our coach has told us which roles we have to play," Hildebrand told the German press.

"We mustn't fight each other but work together for the good of the team.

"I'm not the type to make demands via the media. Of course we don't know what will happen if Jens doesn't get to play for Arsenal for some time, but everybody knows that no change is planned in goal ahead of the European Championships.

"Jens will retire from international football at some point and I reckon I will then get my chance to play in the national team."

Hildebrand's words will come as a relief to coach Joachim Low less than two years after the intense rivalry between Lehmann and Oliver Kahn disturbed Germany's preparation for the 2006 World Cup.

SportingLife

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Ashkan Dejagah will be allowed to stay in the German Under-21 set-up despite withdrawing from the squad to face Israel.

The German-Iranian striker sparked controversy last week when refusing to play against Israel and some politicians and German Jewish groups called for the Wolfsburg player to be kicked off the team.

The 21 year-old has Iranian parents but moved to Germany as a youngster.

German Football Association president Theo Zwanziger met with Dejagah and was satisfied with the explanation he received.

"Ashkan Dejagah has assured us that, due to his Iranian background, he was exclusively concerned with the well-being of his family," Zwanzinger said in a statement

"He stressed... that there were no racist or anti-Semitic reasons."

Dejagah has apologized.

"In case I expressed myself in a way that was misunderstood, I'm sorry," Dejagah told Bild.

"It's clear that I am determined to continue playing for Germany."

Goal.com - Germany - Dejagah To Stay With Germany Despite Israeli Controversy

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Germany will stage the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, football's global governing body has announced.

Hat-trick attempt
Winners of the trophy in China this year and also in 2003, Silvia Neid's all-conquering team will aim for a hat-trick on home soil in the next finals after FIFA selected the German Football Assocation (DFB) bid ahead of that of Canada. Germany previously staged the 2001 UEFA European Women's Championship and the men's FIFA World Cups of 1974 and 2006. FIFA President Joseph S Blatter revealed the decision in Zurich on Tuesday and handed the World Cup to the German delegation, saying: "With emotion and pleasure, I'm happy to give this trophy back to the DFB and the team that won the trophy this year and in 2003."

'Great honour'
DFB president Dr Theo Zwanziger declared: "We are proud and grateful to be able to stage the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011 so soon after the World Cup in 2006. This is a great honour for us. I especially want to thank honorary president Gerhard Mayer-Vorfelder and Franz Beckenbauer as well as anyone else who helped with the bid." Birgit Prinz, who captained Germany to success in China and has won two World Cups and four European titles, added: "I'm looking forward to the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup in Germany. It will be a super event for everyone taking part."

Government backing
Representing the German government, who gave the bid their full backing, federal minister for family affairs, senior citizens, women and youth Ursula von der Leyen said: "We have so many enthusiastic female players worldwide and now we can give them a great stage to shine on. I am convinced that this tournament will give fresh impetus to women's football worldwide."

uefa.com

[Vargas_4]

That's cool. I hope them german chicks can make it 3 wins in a row

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The German national team have announced the dates for their warm-up games prior to this summer's European Championships...

The World Cup semi finalists will play Belarus on May 27th and Serbia four days after.

Germany manager Joachim Löw (pictured) hand-picked the opponents, and explained his choices to the media.

"We've chosen these two teams because they have similar characteristics, as regards mentality and style of game, to Poland and Croatia," he said.

Poland and Croatia, of course, are two of the three teams in Germany's group for the competition, which is being co-hosted by Austria and Switzerland.

The third team in the group is Austria, with whom Germany had already agreed a friendly to be played on February 6th, as well as facing fellow co-hosts Switzerland on March 26th.

Germany will open their Euro 2008 campaign against Poland on June 8th in Klagenfurt.

Goal.com - Euro 2008 - Germany Finalise Euro Preparations

[Vargas_4]

It's good that we are taking our Euro opponents seriously. Must not get ahead of ourselves.