Germany's Squad Strength Set for the Biggest Test

Germany have definitely been one of the much improved teams over the last decade. It has been largely because of their humiliating exit at the Euro 2000. Since then, the nation has worked extensively on improving its youth, and the results seem to be showing now.

However, there is still not a trophy to show for this excellence, but according to the Euro 2012 odds it will finally be Germany's year. The team came extremely close to winning the Euro 2008, and they were once again challenging at the top for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

However, they are in a group containing Portugal and the Netherlands, which has led many into widely believing that this is the toughest object of Germany have to face in their efforts to win the title. Despite having a young team at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Germany managed to make a semifinal appearance.

The German national team manager Joachim Loew has been speaking extremely confident about his team's abilities, while we can also be sure that they will now have the added experience of a major tournament under their belt.

One of the biggest advantages Joachim Loew might have over the other contenders is the exceptionally strong midfield. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Thomas Müller, and Sami Khedira who experience with the first taste of a major tournament at the 2010 FIFA World Cup have matured a lot since the last tournament.

They are players who are regular first teams for their club teams. One can also add defender Holger Badstuber to the list of players who have come a long way since the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Joachim Loew is also likely to have the 19-year-old Borussia Dortmund star Mario Gotze at the Euro 2012 squad. Given the wealth of midfielders, Loew has already suggested that he might resort to squad rotation in the group stages. It might be a problem for other teams, but for Germany, it is one of their biggest strengths.

Even though he is potentially going to use Bayern Munich striker Mario Gomez as the main weapon, the 33-year-old Miroslav Klose provides more than a good backup option. Further, the 14 World Cup goals of Klose will only help the team.

Germany certainly have the best squad at the Euro 2012 with a right mixture of youth and experience. Only time will tell if they are successful in their first match–Germany vs. Portugal.