Q&A with German diplomat
Heavyweights Germany and Portugal play in Group G’s opening match at midnight on June 16. We spoke with the deputy Head of Mission from Germany, Mr Steffen Koch, to get his views.
Who will win the match?
I wouldn’t say Germany are the clear favourites, but I’m looking forward to a match between two well-placed teams (in the Fifa world ranking).
Portugal is a good team with very good players but we managed to stop the Portuguese the last time we played. I predict a narrow win for Germany.
Where will you be watching the match?
I will be watching at the Swiss Club with my family.
How much of a football fan are you?
I will watch all the German matches, starting tonight (midnight June 16). My favourite German team is FC Kaiserslautern from my hometown in southwest Germany.
What are Germany’s strength?
The team has an excellent mixture of experience and dynamism with players like team captain (Philipp) Lahm and young midfielder (Mario) Gotze.
What are the weaknesses?
Some of our key players like (Bastian) Schweinsteiger, (Manuel) Neuer and (Sami) Khedira have had recent injuries and this might affect their performance.
Who is the biggest threat to Germany?
Brazil - no doubt about that.
Do you think that Germany will win the World Cup?
We reached the semi-finals in the last 3 World Cups, so we have a good recent record in this tournament. It is my sincere hope that Germany will go all the way this time.
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