Advertisement

The Road to Portugal

The German national soccer team touched down in Portugal on Wednesday for Euro 2004. To mark the Germans arrival, DW-WORLD presents an archive showing their route to the finals.

https://p.dw.com/p/5AjE

After the peaks and troughs of qualification, Rudi Völler hopes for a smoother passage in Portugal.Image: AP

Advertisement

Since losing to Brazil in the World Cup final in 2002, the German soccer team has been working towards its next shot at international glory at the European Championships this summer. DW-WORLD has been following Rudi Völler's team throughout the qualification process and the warm-up games that followed on the road to Portugal. Here is a list of articles plotting Germany's course since the World Cup final.

Skip next section Reports & Analysis

Reports & Analysis

Germany Beats Faroe Islands by a Hair

Although Germany’s team beat the northern islanders in a European Soccer Qualification round, the real praise goes to the plucky underdogs who played a respectable game against the runner-up world champions.

Völler Lambastes German Soccer Critics

Germany’s national team barely managed to draw with soccer minnows Iceland in an important European Championship qualifying match on Saturday. Afterwards, coach Rudi Völler attacked journalists for expecting more.

Jeering Fans Send Germany off to Portugal

Germany lost 0-2 to Hungary on Sunday in their last preparation match before Euro 2004 begins in Portugal this weekend. It was an embarrassing farewell to home soil for the team which leaves for the finals on Wednesday.

French Soccer Squad Romps over Germany

France thrashed Germany’s national soccer team on Saturday night 3-0. The French squad led by star midfielder Zinedine Zidane dominated the match despite the Germans’ home field advantage.

Last Minute Goal Saves Germany Embarrassment

Substitute Carsten Ramelow snatched victory from the jaws of a mediocre stalemate in Croatia on Wednesday night as Germany won 2-1 in the team's latest preparation match for the European Championships this summer.

German Figures Rally Around 'Rambo Rudi'

After waking up a snoozing nation with an outburst after his team’s dull performance against Iceland on Saturday, German soccer coach Rudi Völler found on Monday that many respected Germans supported his comments.

Germany Thrashes Malta's Part-Timers

The German national soccer team went some way to repairing its damaged reputation on Thursday by beating Malta 7-0 in a friendly match as part of its Euro 2004 preparations.

German Players Pessimistic ahead of Italy Clash

Germany's soccer stars warm up for important Euro 2004 matches with a tough friendly game against Italy on Wednesday, but some players have all but written off the struggling squad's chances in international competition.

"McBerti" Takes on His Former Team

Germany's former national soccer trainer Berti Vogts, now coaching Scotland, will face on his former team this weekend in an important European Cup qualification match.

Germany to Face Old Foes in Euro 2004

Old scores and local rivalries are set to be settled in the opening stages of the European Championships in Portugal next summer as the soccer teams of Germany and Holland have been placed together in Group D.

German Soccer Team Avoids Embarrassing Draw

The German soccer team was spared from what could have been an embarrassing draw with the mostly amateur Faroe Islanders. But in the last minutes of the European Championship qualifier Germany pulled out a 2-0 victory.

German Soccer Humiliated in Bucharest

It could hardly have been a worse preparation for the upcoming European Championships. Rudi Völler took his Euro 2004 hopefuls to Romania on Wednesday and saw his team lose 5-1.

Show more stories