Best EURO performance: winners 1972, 1980, 1996
Coach: Joachim Löw
Leading scorer: all-time – Gerd Müller (68); current – Miroslav Klose (63)
Most appearances: all-time – Lothar Matthäus (150); current – Miroslav Klose (113)
Association formed: 1900
Nickname: Nationalmannschaft (National team)

Three-time victors and thrice runners-up, Germany are the UEFA European Championship's most successful side and an exciting squad approach UEFA EURO 2012 knowing the Nationalmannschaft, last winners in 1996, have never had to wait more than four editions for glory. Under Jürgen Klinsmann and now Joachim Löw, a fluid, attacking style has evolved since group stage exits in 2000 and 2004. Third in the last two FIFA World Cups and runners-up at UEFA EURO 2008, Löw's charges qualified with a 100% record this time around.

UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying
Group A: winners
Leading scorer: Miroslav Klose (9)
Ever-presents: Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm, Thomas Müller (10)

Germany became the first side to qualify for the finals on 2 September, a 6-2 home victory over Austria – their eighth win in Group A – sending them through with two matches to spare.

Löw's side won those remaining games, too, joining a group of only five teams to complete a EURO qualifying campaign with a 100% record; they finished 13 points clear of Group A runners-up Turkey.

Germany scored three or more in eight of their ten qualifiers, with Miroslav Klose contributing nine of their 34 strikes as he closed to within five of Gerd Müller's 68-goal national record.

"[Qualifying with a 100% record] means nothing: it is titles that people remember," said Löw. "But it was a superior campaign and we've earned respect and gained confidence. Our successful start in Brussels and the convincing win against Turkey were key for us."

EURO pedigree
Winners in 1972 (final: 3-0 Soviet Union), 1980 (2-1 Belgium) and 1996 (2-1 Czech Republic, golden goal); and runners-up in 1976, 1992 and four years ago in Austria and Switzerland, Germany have won exactly half of their 38 finals matches – all are records.

UEFA EURO 2012 will be Germany's 11th successive final tournament, another UEFA European Championship record. They did not enter the first two editions and failed to qualify in 1968. Germany have advanced to the knockout stage in every one of their 17 FIFA World Cup appearances but in the UEFA European Championship they have suffered group stage exits three times, finishing third in the section in 1984 and 2004 and bottom in 2000.

UEFA EURO 2012 Group B fixtures
Saturday 9 June: Germany v Portugal, 20.45CET, Lviv
Wednesday 13 June: Netherlands v Germany, 20.45CET, Kharkiv
Sunday 17 June: Denmark v Germany, 20.45CET, Lviv

Team EURO records
Matches played
Overall: P126 W81 D29 L16 F268 A91
Final tournament: P38 W19 D10 L9 F55 A39
Qualifying: P88 W62 D19 L7 F213 A52

Click here for extensive list of records

Last updated 19 December 2011