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If the experts are to be believed, only two things can happen to defending champion Germany at Euro 2000. Either it will be eliminated at the group stage by technically superior opponents, or else it will get a lucky break, sneak into the knockout phase and then be sent packing. That's if you believe the experts. The statistics, of course, tell a very different story. Only twice since they trounced the Soviet Union 3-0 in Brussels in 1972 have the Germans failed to reach the final. If their record at World Cup level is impressive, their domination of Europe has been even more pronounced. Yet there are those who believe that Erich Ribbeck's team could be on the verge of a humiliation far more embarrassing than the debacle at France 98 that forced Berti Vogts to quit. The Germans are bound to be doggedly efficient and supremely well organized. But according to Franz Beckenbauer, this time there are no additional qualities to support those traditional attributes. "We are not as good as we used to be," said Beckenbauer, Germany's most revered footballing ambassador, both as a player and a coach. "We have no young players coming through -- no one to excite the crowds like [England's] David Beckham and Michael Owen." Once again, Germany will rely for inspiration on Lothar Matthäus, now 39 and in his last international competition. That's not their only problem. Skipper Oliver Bierhoff, their main striker who scored the Golden Goal that broke Czech hearts in the Euro 1996 final, is not scoring regularly enough and Ribbeck knows it. "I can't just kick him out of the squad," said Ribbeck. "But we have to look for alternatives." At least in Oliver Kahn, the Germans have arguably the best goalkeeper in the world. Kahn's form could be crucial to how far they progress. Yet Germany's biggest problem of all is that it is a victim of its own success. Anything less than a place in the final will be regarded as an underachievement, and Ribbeck is perfectly aware that he will have to step down if his side fails to deliver. CNNSI.com's Gabriele Marcotti: Ribbeck's team has plenty of experience and a nice scrapbook filled with fading memories, but make no mistake about it, this is possibly the worst side Germany has fielded in an international tournament since before Matthäus was born (and that's a long, long time ago). Still, if there's one thing Germany does well, it's capitalizing on opponent's mistakes while making very few of its own. That should be enough to overcome Romania and Portugal and sneak into the quarterfinals.
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Germany
