Germany's third-place finish at their home World Cup two years ago was something of a surprise, but a similar performance this time around would be nothing short of a disappointment.
Coach Joachim Low has continued the work started by predecessor Jurgen Klinsmann and hopes are high, particularly after being drawn alongside Poland, who have never beaten them, and unfancied co-hosts Austria.
They qualified second in their group behind the Czech Republic (10 points clear of their nearest challengers) but their 13-0 win over minnows San Marino set a new mark in European Championship qualifying history.
They have won the tournament in 1972 - their first appearance, 1980 and 1996 to add to their three World Cups and will fancy their chances of going all the way again this summer thanks to a squad that is going a long way toward altering the view of German football being efficient but uninspiring.
Widely credited as being the main tactical brain behind Germany's third-place finish in their home World Cup, 'Jogi' took charge of the national side after Jurgen Klinsmann opted not to renew his contract after the tournament.
The inexperienced Klinsmann was head coach between 2004 and 2006 but admitted he had "learnt a lot" from his trusted assistant Low, who World Cup winner Lothar Matthaus describes as "a good, switched-on coach".
After a playing career including spells at SC Freiburg, Stuttgart, Eintracht Frankfurt, Karlsruhe and Swiss sides Schaffhausen and Winterthur, Low's big break in coaching came at Stuttgart where he succeeded Rolf Fringer.
After leading them to the DFB-Pokal he took them into the European Cup Winners' Cup final the following year (they lost to Chelsea) before leaving for an 18-month spell at Fenerbahce.
Thereafter he flitted between Karlsruhe, Adanaspor, Tirol Innsbruck and Austria Vienna before Klinsmann appointed him as his No 2 in 2004 - and everything he has done since has enhanced his reputation.
