Could Striker Mario Gomez be leaving Bayern Munich in the summer?

German giants FC Bayern Munich are currently playing one of their best-ever season with the Bundesliga title wrapped-up and still chances to win the UEFA Champions League and the German Cup, but there are players who lost out on the campaign with the biggest loser being striker Mario Gomez.

The 27 year old German international went into the season as the striker number one ahead of new signing Mario Mandzukic from VfL Wolfsburg and seasoned Claudio Pizarro, who returned from Werder Bremen. But injury and good performances from especially Mandzukic and the team player Pizarro have pushed Gomez back in the pecking order.

And that isn't to the liking of Mario Gomez, who scored a hattrick yesterday in just six minutes against VfL Wolfsburg in the German Cup semifinal, but only after coming on as a substitute for Mandzukic.

only a year ago Mario Gomez extended his contract at Bayern Munich until 2016 at a time where he was scoring regularly, but the criticism over the way he plays has never died down and now with Mandzukic there many say that Gomez's time in Munich could be over in the summer.

"There were always expressions of interest in the services of Mario," Gomez agent Uli Ferber told German tabloid Bild. "They were during his years at Stuttgart, right before his move to Bayern Munich, and right ahead of his most recent contract renewal. But also right now at this point in time."

So as expected there are clubs very much interested to sign Gomez with especially English Premier League clubs Manchester City and Chelsea FC potential destinations as they look at options upfront, but also other EPL sides besides clubs from Spain and Italy could be interested in the tall striker.

But Bayern Munich are not reacting at all, knowing that the situation for Gomez isn't the best but that is what competition does within a team...

Bayern Munich win their 23rd Bundesliga title in a season of record

German giants FC Bayern Munich today with a 1-0 away victory at Eintracht Frankfurt's Commerzbank Arena confirmed their 23rd Bundesliga title as they stay 20 points ahead of second placed Borussia Dortmund with only six matches remaining in the 2012/13 season. Never has a club won the Bundesliga title so early in the season with six matches remaining.

"We've been outstanding," said FCB president Uli Hoeness after Bayern sealed the Bundesliga title in record time, "I can hardly describe how fantastic I find this championship."

But captain Philipp Lahm warned, "We still have big targets."

The Bavarians were the better side from the start but first Xherdan Shaqiri hit the right post early on and then young David Alaba missed a 27th-minute penalty. It remained goalless at the break, but Bastian Schweinsteiger changed that in the 52nd minute when he flicked a Philipp Lahm cross into the Frankfurt goal for the match winner. Frankfurt did push for a late equaliser which needed two incredible saves from goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, but in the end it was Bayern Munich's day.

This has been a season of records for Bayern Munich as they won their 24th match out of 28 games so far with this win their 11th win in a row since the winter break. FCB are now on 75 points from 28 matches with a new points record looking likely, a goal difference of +66 and only 13 goals conceded.

"It's a pleasure and a great feeling. We can be happy, but we have to conduct ourselves appropriately," Director of Sports Matthias Sammer said.

Germany beat Kazakhstan 4-1, close in on World Cup qualification

After Friday nights 3-0 win against Kazakhstan away in Astana, Germany scored a 4-1 win at home in Nuremberg against the same opponent in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers yesterday to pick-up maximum six points from the March matches to take a giant step towards World Cup qualification.

Germany coach Joachim Löw had to make some adjustments due to injuries to defender Benedikt Höwedes and teenager Julian Draxler plus a yellow card suspension of Bastian Schweinsteiger with Jérôme Boateng, Ilkay Gündogan and Marco Reus coming into the starting eleven.

Germany were in control from the start but their finishing at the start wasn't upto the mark or a Kazakh was able to block the attempts. Things changed in the 23rd minute as Marco Reus gave Germany the lead and in four minute intervals his Borussia Dortmund team mates Mario Götze and Ilkay Gündogan made it 3-0 for Germany with Kazakhstan staring at a heavy defeat. The central Asians were able to keep the score at 0-3 at the break.

Only seconds into the second half the German defence made a blunder which forced goalkeeper Manuel Neuer into risky ball which enabled Heinrich Schmidtgal to score into an empty net. Suddenly Germany lost their game and presence, and they again needed 15 to 20 minutes like in the first session to get their game together. Thereafter it was once more one-way traffic though the woodwork and the Kazakhs were always in the way.

In the end a late minute goal from Marco Reus sealed the match in Germany's favour, who won 4-1 in the end.

MATCH STATS

Germany 4-1 (3-0) Kazakhstan - Goals: 1-0,4-1 Marco Reus (23',90'), 2-0 Mario Götze (27'), 3-0 Ilkay Gündogan (31'), 3-1 Heinrich Schmidtgal (46')

Germany
Manuel Neuer - Philip Lahm, Per Mertesacker, Jérôme Boateng, Marcel Schmelzer - Sami Khedira, Ilkay Gündogan - Thomas Müller, Mesut Özil, Marco Reus (90' Marcell Jansen) - Mario Götze

Kazakhstan
Sidelnikov - Gorman, Dmitrenko, Mukhtarov, Kirov - Nurdauletov (46' Dzholchiev) - Konysbaev (78' Shomko), Korobkin, Engel, Schmidtgal - Ostapenko (64' Kukeyev)

Referee
Halis Özkahya (Turkey)

Germany makes squad changes ahead of Kazakhstan qualifiers

After Friday nights 3-0 win against Kazakhstan away in Astana, Germany once more meet the same opponent tomorrow in Nuremberg in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Another win will take Germany even closer to qualification.

Germany coach Joachim Löw has had to make some adjustments due to a injury to teenager Julian Draxler and a yellow card suspension of Bastian Schweinsteiger follow earlier injuries to Holger Badstuber, Mats Hummels, Lars Bender, Sven Bender, Toni Kroos and Miroslav Klose.

While a recovered Sven Bender has joined the squad, Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV) and Patrick Herrmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach) have been called-up as late replacements.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
René Adler (Hamburger SV), Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96)

Defenders
Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Philip Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)

Midfielders
Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund), Patrick Herrmann (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Marcell Jansen (Hamburger SV), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (FC Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), André Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München)

Joachim Löw names Germany squad for Kazakhstan qualifiers

Germany coach Joachim Löw has named his 20 players squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Kazakhstan away in Astana on Friday (March 22) and at home in Nuremberg on Tuesday (March 26).

Due to injuries Holger Badstuber, Mats Hummels, Lars Bender, Sven Bender, Toni Kroos and Miroslav Klose will be missing the matches, while inform striker Stefan Kiessling was not called-up as some expected.

Joachim Loew had a number of late injuries for the squad but he so far has not called-up any replacements.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
René Adler (Hamburger SV), Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96)

Defenders
Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Philip Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)

Midfielders
Julian Draxler (FC Schalke 04), Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (FC Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), André Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)

Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München)

Michael Ballack to play his farewell match on June 5 in Leipzig

At a press conference today former Germany captain Michael Ballack announced that he will play his farewell match at the Red Bull Arena in Leipzig on June 5, 2013.

The match will be played under the title 'Ciao Capitano! Ein Abend mit Weltklasse' meaning 'Bye Captain! An evening of world class'!

Ballack has invited a number of stars with whom he has played in his career along with his ex-coaches with a surprise invitation to Germany coach Joachim Löw, who got rid of Ballack under as many said inaapropriate circumstances while he also invited Germany captain Philipp Lahm.

Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho has already confirmed his participation as have ex-teammates Bastian Schweinsteiger and Andriy Shevchenko.

The former Germany 'Capitano' as he was fondly called, played 98 times for Germany before a horrific injury playing for FC Chelsea by Kevin Pricne Boateng in the English FA Cup final in May 2010 forcefully ended his international career just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Ballack who played for Chemnitzer FC, 1.Kaiserslautern, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Bayern Munich, FC Chelsea London before returning to Leverkusen; is best known to have led Germany through a difficult decade without real stars expect him but also as someone who couldn't win an international title finishing runners-up at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 European Championships for Germany, besides the 2002 and 2008 UEFA Champions League finals though he won the German Bundesliga and English Premier League titles for his club sides.

The AFC & German FA renew partnership deal

The Acting Asian Football Federation President Zhang Jilong and German Football Association (DFB) President Wolfgang Niersbach signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Friday to intensify and continue the partnership between the two bodies in the technical and management areas.

Thanking the DFB for their continuous support, Jilong said the partnership would help AFC's Member Associations in a big way.

"Asian football is on the rise but we need the latest knowhow to get where we want to. I believe this agreement will help us achieve our goals. It will provide us with technical support, which could bridge any existing gap," he said.

"What is really good about this arrangement is that the DFB will be making available their experts directly to our Member Associations. I am sure our Member Associations will be eager to avail of this particular benefit."

Niersbach said it is a continuation of the cooperation between the two bodies.

"I must say it's a continuation of our cooperation as we have been working partners traditionally and now it became more official after signing the MoU," he said.

"We are thankful to AFC for their support to German football in the past and I hope after the signing this MoU, it will continue as we share the same organisational philosophy."

Under the MoU, the DFB will invite coaches appointed by the AFC for the DFB International Coaching Courses for foreign coaches, coaching and technical development course and send experts for courses or seminars organised by the AFC or its Member Associations.

Both the bodies will also exchange information on football management and development, including coaching and mentoring programmes, grassroots and youth development, marketing, media, and information technology.

Ambassador of Germany to Malaysia, His Excellency Dr Guenter Gruber; AFC General Secretary Dato' Alex Soosay and DFB Head of Coach Education and International Relations, Markus Weidner were also present on the occasion.

67th Santosh Trophy: Bengal Football Team Sports a New JERSEY!

Ahead of the 67th Santosh Trophy, the new jersey of the Bengal Football Team sporting the e.i.n.s. sport logo was unveiled today at the Bengal Club. e.i.n.s sport is a maven sports marketing company, that is working towards development of football in India. Bengal is sporting a new look with e.i.n.s. sport logo on its front!

As Rainer Appold, CEO – e.i.n.s. sport said, "Marketing of football in India is still at its nascent stage. It is our privilege to be associated with the Bengal Football team and we are grateful to IFA to allow us to be the jersey sponsors for the Bengal Team for the forthcoming Santosh Trophy."

Launching the new jersey with e.i.n.s. sport logo, Utpal Kumar Ganguli, the IFA's Honorary Secretary, said, "I am grateful for the support extended by e.i.n.s. sport for the Bengal team for the forthcoming Santosh Trophy and hope for a long association with them. The Bengal team after winning the trophy for two successive years did not live upto their reputation last year having failed to qualify for the semi final. However this year, the team, with the experienced Manoranjan Bhattyacharya as the Chief Coach and assisted by experienced Satyajit Chatterjee is determined to bring back the trophy which will make e.i.n.s. sport appreciate the sponsorship support extended by them."

The 20 player Bengal state Santosh Trophy squad & officials:

Goalkeepers
Arnab Das Sharma (Mohammedan Sporting Club), Debjit Majumdar (Bhowanipore Club), Manas Barua (Southern Samity)

Defenders
Bapi Saha (Prayag United SC), Soumik Roy (Prayag United SC), Deepak Singh, Sagram Mandi (Bhowanipore Club), Sourav Chakrabarty (Mohun Bagan AC), Gour Naskar (Prayag United SC), Saikat Saha Roy (East Bengal Club)

Midfielders
Mohammed Muktar, Arjun Chatterjee (Mohun Bagan AC), Gopal Debnath (Aryan Club), Abhishek Aich (Calcutta Port Trust), Jagannath Sana (Bhowanipore Club), Francis Xavier (Prayag United SC)

Forwards
Dipendu Biswas (Mohun Bagan AC, Captain), Nabin Hela (Bhowanipore Club), Anjan Dey (Prayag United SC)

Officials
Manaranjan Bhattacharyya (Coach), Satyajit Chatterjee (Assistant Coach), Partha Chakrabarty (Goalkeeper Coach)


Santosh Trophy is the national state football championship with the trophy named after the late Maharaja Sir Manmatha Nath Roy Chowdhary of Santosh, who had been the President of the Indian Football Association and the donor of the trophy.

The 67th Santosh Trophy is being co-hosted by the states of Uttar Pradesh and Kerala from February 1 to March 3, 2013 with Bengal placed along with Delhi and Railways in Group A of the Qualifying round I with two out of the three teams moving into the Quarterfinal league phase. Bengal holds the record of being the champions on 31 occasions.

About e.i.n.s. sport
e.i.n.s. sport an Indo-German company with a young and dynamic team working in the fields of sports and entertainment is set to focus on the game of football, and is looking forward to the opportunity of working with IFA in future.

Germany score impressive 2-1 away win against France

A depleted Germany, who were missing Schweinsteiger, Klose, Reus, Götze, Schmelzer and Babstuber; put-up a briliant display to beat France 2-1 in an international friendly at the Stade de France in Paris.

France had take a late first half lead of a rare Valbuena header before Germany came back in the second session to turn things around with goals from Thomas Müller and Sami Khedira.

A lot was expected from this match and it was a cracker of a game. Both teams from the start played an attacking game infront of a sellout crowd with Germany having the better chances through Khedira, Özil and Mertesacker.

Thereafter Karim Benzema threatened the Germany goal twice in short succession before a Benzema free-kick in the 44th minute hit the woodwork before Sissiko headed int forward for the 1.67m tall Valbuena to head in a surprise 1-0 half-time lead for the hosts.

Germany was not shocked by the France goal and equalised in the 51st minute when Gündogan intercepted a Capoue pass, squared it to Thomas Müller and he made no mistake to put the ball into the net past Hugo Lloris. Thereafter Germany's attacking intent was not as much visible with France having chances through Valbuena, Ribery and Benzama; but on all occasions Rene Adler was there to deny them.

And then came the winner for Germany, a co-production of Real Madrid team mates Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira as Özil played a blind pass for Khedira, who cooly slotted home. France did try to get the equaliser, but it ended 2-1 for Germany, a historic win then it was their first against the Equipe Tricolore since 1987 and the first in France since 1935.

"We were very good going forward, we often found space and their goalkeeper made several good saves," France coach Didier Deschamps said. "We need to be more efficient in attack. At the highest level you need to cut out some of the mistakes we made. We were punished for some of our mistakes tonight."

Meanwhile Germany coach Joachim Löw said, "It was our first big test of 2013, we played with a lot of rhythm and showed some of the good things that were missing last year."

VIDEO - IBN: Ex-Bundesliga striker Rufer trains Indian kids

Here a CNN-IBN report on Oceania's Footballer of the Century Wynton Rufer from New Zealand visiting New Delhi as a German Bundesliga ambassador to teach football skills to Indian kids in the capital. Rufer is best known for his successful time at Werder Bremen.

New balls please – will India kick it like Germany?

On January 31, German Ambassador to India Michael Steiner hosted Oceania's footballer of the century and former Bundesliga champion Wynton Rufer on the lawns of the German Residence in New Delhi. Wynton Rufer was accompanied by some thirty Indian kids of his Delhi based YMCA football camp.

Kick-starting the football diplomacy, Ambassador Steiner said, "India is a cricket nation. And yet, India is also more and more into football. Wynton Rufer and the kids of his camp are the best prove for that."

"Football unites both our countries: Germany is a traditional soccer giant, having won three World Cups and three European Championships. India is a rising soccer giant in Asia, having just won the Nehru Cup 2012. Robin Dutt, the sports director of the German Football Association DFB, the biggest world-wide, has Indian roots. German football professionals train Indian players in Kolkata and Mumbai. All in all, very good conditions for a thriving Indo-German football cooperation."

"My personal dream is that India will kick it like Germany one day – and, who knows, we will see the first football match ever between India and Germany."

Together with YMCA, the German Embassy supports Wynton Rufe'’s football camp.

Joachim Löw names Germany squad for France friendly

Germany coach Joachim Löw has named his 23 players squad for the next Wednesday, February 6 international friendly against France at the Stade de France, Paris.

An inform René Adler will get his chance to show himself in the friendly, while Sami Khedira and Mario Gomez make a return to the squad.

Due to injury Holger Badstuber will continue to miss the match, while inform striker Stefan Kiessling was not called-up as some expected.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
René Adler (Hamburger SV), Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München)

Defenders
Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philip Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Heiko Westermann (Hamburger SV)

Midfielders
Lars Bender (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Julian Draxler (FC Schalke 04), Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund), Ilkay Gündogan (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (FC Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), André Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München)

Forwards
Mario Gomez (FC Bayern München), Miroslav Klose (SS Lazio Roma)

VIDEO: Interview with new Tottenham signing Lewis Holtby

Germany Under-21 international captain Lewis Holtby decided a few weeks ago that in the summer he would end his time at FC Schalke 04 to join EPL side Tottenham Hotspurs. Now in a quick decision Holtby was transferred in the winter break and here his first interview with SpursTV.

Löw names Germany squad for 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers

Germany coach Joachim Löw has named his 21 players squad for the next couple of 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Ireland (Friday, October 12) and Sweden (Tuesday, October 16).

Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger of Bayern Munich makes his return to the squad after missing the Germany matches following Euro2012, while Schalke 04 teenager Julian Draxler misses the matches due to a broken arm and injured striker Mario Gomez of Bayern Munich could also not be selected.


GERMANY

Goalkeepers
Manuel Neuer (FC Bayern München), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96), Marc-André ter Stegen (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Defenders
Holger Badstuber (FC Bayern München), Jérôme Boateng (FC Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (FC Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philip Lahm (FC Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders
Lars Bender (Bayer 04 Leverkusen), Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (FC Bayern München), Thomas Müller (FC Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Lukas Podolski (FC Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Bastian Schweinsteiger (FC Bayern München), André Schürrle (Bayer 04 Leverkusen)

Forwards
Miroslav Klose (Lazio Roma)

'The Art of German Goalkeeping' course in Mumbai from tomorrow

A high performance goalkeeping instructor course titled 'The Art of German Goalkeeping' will be held from October 8 to 15 at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai.

The course will be conducted by instructors Lutz Pfannenstiel and Feliz Imm from Germany, who are on a three week coaching instruction trip to India as part of a partnership between the German Olympic Association (DOSB) and German Football Association (DFB) plus their Indian partners All India Football Federation, Indian Football Association (West Bengal), Mizoram Football Association and Western Indian Football Association (Maharashtra).

The course in Mumbai is being organised by WIFA under the aegis of the AIFF, DOSB and DFB with the course open to AIFF affiliated coaches plus those from I-League clubs and Academies.

AIFF's Technical Director for Regional Academies Scott O'Donell would also conduct some modules of the program. The coaching program includes theory as well as practical sessions and the participants would be introduced to the German way of goalkeeping.

"This is a great initiative. This course will be the first of many such activities that will take place at Cooperage in the coming months," added WIFA CEO Henry Menezes.

Before coming to Mumbai the duo of Lutz Pfannenstiel and Feliz Imm have been in Kolkata (West Bengal) and Aizawl (Mizoram) over the last couple of weeks to do general coaching courses.

German Football Coaching tips for Mizoram

On their current trip to Mizoram, German coaching instructors Lutz Pfannenstiel and Felix Imm of the German Football Association (DFB), have stated that Mizoram can produce footballers of world class if the abundant talent among young footballers is properly harnessed, as the duo feel there was no reason why budding footballers from the Northeastern state cannot graduate to world standard players.

The coaches, who are in Aizawl to train local footballers and local coaches, were pretty impressed by the potential and high spirits of the young players.

“The potential is clearly visible in the spirited and entertaining game played by the young players," former goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel said.

Lal Thanzara, President of Mizoram Football Association had requested Rainer Schmiedchen, Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Kolkata, to provide good coaches for Mizoram, the Consul General promptly expressed keen interest in exploring football talent in the state and took initiative to bring German coach to the state back in May 2012.

The world goalkeeper Lutz Pfannenstiel, who is the first footballer to have played professional football in all the six continents of our planet, said that for the past few days he and Felix Imm had been watching the local Mizo football keenly and concluded that the state has enough talent to make it to international standards.

The German duo is in the process of training local football coaches who will be participating in the upcoming Mizoram Premier League.

"We hope that some coaches may be inspired by what they learned during the training to try to find those same footballing truths for themselves and having found them, apply them to their own teams in Mizoram," said the German duo.

"The players need psychological, physical, moral, medical and sports support. This is how we do it back in Germany and there is no reason why we can’t do it in India or Mizoram," Lutz said at the press confidence.

"Our sincere thanks go to Lal Thanhawla, chief minister of Mizoram who paved the way for Mizoram Football Association to meet Consul General of Germany and our President Lal Thanzara, their efforts have paid off, not only for Mizoram, but also for India," said Lalnghinglova Hmar, Honorary Secretary of the Mizoram Football Association.

The coach education programme with the German coaches started on October 1 and runs until October 6 with 28 coaches from Mizoram attended the programme.

Germany's Michael Ballack retires from active football

36 year old midfielder Michael Ballack yesterday called it quits on his playing career after the former Germany captain did not find a club to continue his career. Ballack left Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the summer and was said to have been in talks with clubs in the North American MLS and Australian A-League with offers also coming in from the Middle East, but no deal could be worked out.

In an official statement Ballack said:

At 36 years of age, I can look back on a long and wonderful time in professional football, which I could never have dreamed of as a child. It was a privilege to have worked with world-class coaches and fantastic players.

Of course, I will miss playing playing or scoring a goal in front of 80,000 fans, but the last few months without football have shown me that it is time to stop.

I am looking forward to a new chapter in my life and thank my family and all the awesome people who have helped and supported me. They are all a big part of my success.

The former Germany 'Capitano' as he was fondly called, played 98 times for Germany before a horrific injury playing for FC Chelsea by Kevin Pricne Boateng in the English FA Cup final in May 2010 forcefully ended his international career just before the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Ballack who played for Chemnitzer FC, 1.Kaiserslautern, Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Bayern Munich, FC Chelsea London before returning to Leverkusen; is best known to have led Germany through a difficult decade without real stars expect him but also as someone who couldn't win an international title finishing runners-up at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 European Championships for Germany, besides the 2002 and 2008 UEFA Champions League though he won the German Bundesliga and English Premier League titles for his club sides.

VIDEO: Fair Play Miroslav Klose, scores hand goal & reports to referee

Germany international striker Miroslav Klose showed real Fair Play on Wednesday evening in a Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Lazio Roma. Following a Lazio corner Klose touches the ball with his hand before the ball goes into the net with the referee allowing the goal, but after Napoli players protest the referee goes to Klose who honestly says he touched the ball with his hand and the goal is disallowed.

The goal would have been Lazio's 1-0 at Napoli and in the end Lazio lost 0-3, but Klose showed what real Fair Play means and was applauded by the Napoli players on the field and thereafter by fans and the media alike.

The first video shows the goals, the second also the reactions thereafter

German Coaching/Goalkeeping Instructors coming to India

The German Olympic Association (DOSB) and German Football Association (DFB) are sending two Coaching and Goalkeeping instructors to India for the next three weeks to run two Coaching courses in Kolkata and Mizoram plus the goalkeeping course "The Art of German Goalkeeping" in Mumbai.

The first course will be held from Monday onwards in Kolkata by the Indian Football Association (West Bengal) in which local coaches get the chance to learn the German way of coaching, which in the last few years has been very successful.

The second course will be held by the Mizoram Football Association in the state capital Aizawl. Originally planed for youth development coaches, the course is now open to all coaches in the Northeastern state as such high level instructors rarely come to Mizoram.

The third and final course will be organised by the All India Football Federation and hosted by the Western India Football Association at the Cooperage Ground in Mumbai from October 12-15. Goalkeeping coaches contracted with the AIFF, from I-League clubs and other institutions have been invited for the course "The Art of German Goalkeeping" then Germany has brought out some of the best goalkeepers in the history of world football.

Germany suffer 1-3 friendly loss against Argentina

Germany hosted Argentina in a high profile friendly last evening in Frankfurt/Main and suffered a rather unlucky 1-3 defeat against the South Americans which could have ended differently.

On a hot-and-humid evening both teams made a quick start into the game as die Mannschaft and the Albiceleste showed their attacking intent, but both set of defences stood their ground with Mesut Özil having the only real look at goal early on.

Germany had to make an early change after defender Mats Hummel and striker Gonzalo Higuain banged their heads with the German having to go off while Higuain got a turban-like bandage. The match got more intense and then on the half hour mark goalkeeper Ron Robert Zieler brought down Jose Ernesto Sosa, which resulted in a penalty and a red card, the first-ever red card for a German goalkeeper in the 864th match. In came another young keeper in Marc-Andre ter Stegen, whose first act was to easily collect Lionel Messi's terribly taken penalty. But Argentina went into the break with a lead as Ángel Di Maria's corner was put into the German goal by his Ream Madrid team mate Sami Khedira a minute into injury time.

Germany had the better start into the second session, but Marco Reus' long distance shot only hit the right post while at the other end Lionel Messi scored Argentina's second in the 52nd minute off a Higuain pass. Now Argentina looked in control, but Germany fought back into the match though the goal for them remained elusive while Argentina scored their third off a thundering shot from Ángel Di Maria in the 73rd minute.

Down three goals the young German side, whose oldest player by now was only 24 year old in Benedikt Höwedes still continued to attack and got their goal of the night when Höwedes headed in a Mario Götze shot in the 81st minute though more was possible even with 10 men for over an hour of play.


MATCH STATS

Germany 1-3 Argentina - Goals: 0-1 Sami Khedira (45+1', own goal), 0-2 Lionel Messi (52'), 0-3 Angel di Maria (73'), 1-3 Benedikt Höwedes (81')

Germany
Ron Robert Zieler - Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels (25' Benedikt Höwedes), Holger Badstuber, Marcel Schmelzer - Lars Bender (69' Mario Götze), Sami Khedira (69' Ilkay Gündogan) - Thomas Müller (32' Marc-Andre ter Stegen), Mesut Özil (69' Toni Kroos), Marco Reus - Miroslav Klose [C] (62' Andre Schürrle)

Argentina
Sergio Romero - Pablo Zabaleta (65' Hugo Armando Campagnaro), Federico Fernandez, Ezequiel Garay, Marcos Rojo - Fernando Gago, Javier Mascherano (79' Rodrigo Brana) - Ángel Di Maria (73' Pablo Guinazu), Jose Ernesto Sosa (46' Sergei Aguero) - Lionel Messi [C], Gonzalo Higuain

Referee
Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)