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Goalkeepers
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Andreas Koepke
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(Olympique Marseille, France) Age 36, 51
caps.
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Koepke seized his chance when Bodo Illgner retired from
international game after disappointing 1994 finals. Has been
Germany's undisputed first choice keeper since. Unspectacular,
no frills performer but with a reassuring presence.
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Oliver Kahn
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(Bayern Munich) 28 (29 on June 15), 9 caps.
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Germany's talented number two keeper is patiently waiting for
Koepke's reign to end. Has had another strong season with
Bayern.
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Jens Lehmann
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(Schalke 04) 28, 1 cap.
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Courted by AC Milan, he
was vital to Schalke's 1997 UEFA Cup win and has now replaced
Borussia Dortmund's Stefan Klos as Berti Vogts' third-choice
keeper. Earned his solitary cap in a friendly against Oman on
February 19.
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Defenders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Thomas Helmer
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(Bayern Munich), 33, 65 caps.
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Versatile
defender who is good man-to-man marker and can also perform well
in libero role. Has struggled to recover from a knee injury
which kept him out of action for several weeks in March.
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Juergen Kohler
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(Borussia Dortmund) 32, 98 caps.
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Former
Juventus star who is Germany's most experienced man-to-man
marker and has snuffed out many of the world's best strikers
over the years. Sometimes a little clumsy but still a man
strikers fear. German footballer of the year in 1997 after
brilliant performances with Borussia Dortmund. Received the
first red card of his career in Germany's 2-1 defeat by Brazil
on March 25.
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Stefan Reuter
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(Borussia Dortmund) 31, 66 caps.
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One of the
fastest defenders in the game notable for his forward runs down
the flanks. Fighting to recapture his best form after a string
of injuries.
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Matthias Sammer
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(Borussia Dortmund) 30, 51 caps (plus 23 for
former East Germany).
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One of the best liberos since Franz
Beckenbauer but a doubtful starter. Has hardly played this
season after undergoing a career-threatening operation on his
troublesome left knee. Coach Berti Vogts has said he still hopes
Sammer will be fit in time for France.
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Markus Babbel
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(Bayern Munich) 25, 28 caps.
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Often an
international while not always a first-choice player at Bayern,
Babbel is a tall and powerful defender. Was linked to Manchester
United in the close season but chose to stay with the German
champions.
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Olaf Thon
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(Schalke 04) 32, 46 caps.
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Libero who reminded
Vogts of his skills by helping his club to victory in the UEFA
Cup last year. Returned to the national team after Sammer's
injury, but damaged knee ligaments late in April and faces a
fight to be fit in time for France.
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Christian Woerns
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(Bayer Leverkusen) 25 (26 on May 10), 14
caps.
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Can play wing-back and in central defence. A good
man-to-man marker, he also likes to bring the ball forward. Will
move to Paris St Germain next season.
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Thomas Linke
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(Schalke 04) 28, 2 caps.
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Faultless performances
with Schalke on their way to victory in the UEFA Cup earned him
his first cap in a friendly against South Africa last November.
Tough, reliable central defender.
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Midfielders
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Mario Basler
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(Bayern Munich) 29, 27 caps.
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Fast, skilful
midfielder who is very useful down the flanks. Has had a tough
season with injuries and problems with Bayern coach Giovanni
Trapattoni.
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Thomas Haessler
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(Karlsruhe SC), 31 (32 on May 30), 91 caps.
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One of the most experienced players in the squad, this gifted,
diminutive member of 1990 World Cup-winning team is famous for
his free-kick prowess. Seems to have fully recovered from a
nasty leg break suffered in March last year.
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Andreas Moeller
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(Borussia Dortmund) 30, 77 caps.
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Major
disappointment at 1994 World Cup finals but has bounced back
since with great performances for both team and country. Key
attacking midfielder with a powerful shot and an ability to
drive his side forward. Enormous confidence which rubs off on
his team mates.
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Christian Ziege
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(AC Milan, Italy) 26, 35 caps.
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Very
dangerous down the left flank, Ziege is a regular first choice.
Left Bayern Munich for AC Milan this season and has matured in
the tough Italian league despite suffering some injuries.
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Joerg Heinrich
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(Borussia Dortmund) 28, 13 caps.
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Become
first-choice player with the national team after helping
Dortmund lift the European Cup last May. Versatile and reliable.
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Dietmar Hamann
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(Bayern Munich), 24, 4 caps.
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This season's
revelation. A solid midfielder with good creative skills.
Dangerous from free-kicks.
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Michael Tarnat
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(Bayern Munich), 28, 10 caps.
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Has raised his
game to a new level since joining Bayern Munich from Karlsruhe
SC this season. A useful defensive midfielder.
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Jens Jeremies
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(TSV 1860 Munich), 24, 3 caps.
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A creative
midfielder with playmaking skills who earned his first cap in a
friendly against South Africa last November. Will join Bayern
Munich next season.
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Lars Ricken
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(Borussia Dortmund), 21 (22 on July 10), 2 caps.
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Shot to fame with brilliant performances in Dortmund's 1997
European Cup campaign. Widely tipped to become Germany's next
big star but perhaps a bit too inexperienced for a place in the
first team in France.
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Sven Kmetsch
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(Hamburg SV), 27, 2 caps.
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The former East
German earned his first cap in a World Cup qualifier against
Armenia last September and earned rave reviews. Utility
midfielder.
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Forwards
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Player
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Team, Age, Caps
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Oliver Bierhoff
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(Udinese, Italy), 29 (30 on May 1), 23 caps.
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Gained superstar status after scoring both goals in Germany's
2-1 victory over the Czech Republic in the Euro 96 final at
Wembley. Has hit over 20 goals in Serie A this season. Strong in
the air and on the ground, he has developed a reputation for
scoring just when Germany need it most.
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Juergen Klinsmann
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(Tottenham, England) 33, 101 caps.
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National team captain who played a key role in the 1990 World
Cup and Euro 96 triumphs and wants to end his international
career after France. The former Stuttgart, Monaco, Bayern Munich
and Sampdoria star has struggled for form in his second spell
with Spurs and may find himself relegated to the bench.
Articulate and intelligent, loves travelling.
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Ulf Kirsten
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(Bayer Leverkusen) 32, 28 caps (plus 49 for East
Germany).
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Prolific scorer in the Bundesliga over the past two
seasons. Grabbed some important goals in qualifying and could
oust Klinsmann in Vogts' first-choice lineup.
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Fredi Bobic
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(VfB Stuttgart) 26, 19 caps.
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Slovenian-born
hitman who has so far failed to transform his prolific club form
onto the international stage, scoring only twice in 19
appearances. Came back from an injury layoff recently and has
vowed to convince Vogts to take him to France.
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Olaf Marschall
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(Bayer Leverkusen), 32, 4 caps (plus 4 for
East Germany).
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Earned a recall by banging in 13 goals for
leaders Kaiserslautern, then damaged ligaments in his right knee
last November and was sidelined for three months. Now fit again,
the former East German is a strong centre forward, often in the
right place at the right time.
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