Few teams attract as many stereotypes as Germany. The supposed masters of Teutonic efficiency and specialists in scoring from 12 yards invariably possess a seasoned, battle-hardened look.
Not this time. Old habits, such as a tradition of overachievement, may die hard, but this is the youngest group of players to have represented Germany at a World Cup for 76 years. Joachim Loew is credited with devising the bold tactics Jurgen Klinsmann deployed in 2006; now he has been similarly adventurous in his preference for the untried.
Much of the side who were European Under 21 champions last season are in Loew's party. There is an unusual unfamiliarity to this German side, though some sprung to prominence in Bayern Munich's Champions League run. They are, to paraphrase Sir Alex Ferguson, untypical Germans.
Even their captain acknowledged as such. Philipp Lahm said on Friday: "We have more players who are able to win one-on-one situations, more players who are technically strong, and more players who enjoy having the ball - so fewer 'typically German' players, and that is really good for us."
They have a different look, created by new personnel. Manuel Neuer, Holger Badstuber, Dennis Aogo, Serder Tasci, Jerome Boateng, Sami Khedira, Toni Kroos, Marko Marin, Mesut Ozil and Thomas Muller: these are men who could comprise the basis of the team for the 2018 World Cup, not just the 2010 tournament.
Even the experienced players are comparatively youthful: new skipper Lahm has 65 caps, but is only 26; Bastian Schweinsteiger, his deputy, is a year younger and has played 10 more games; Lukas Podolski, 25, has 73 international appearances to his name.
Die Mannschaft are, of course, lacking their main man: Michael Ballack, whose ankle ligaments were damaged in the FA Cup final. Miroslav Klose, approaching 100 caps and 50 goals, almost appears an anachronism, surrounded by the next generation. Today provides the veteran striker with a chance to meet his contemporaries: nine of the possible Australian side have celebrated a 30th birthday.
But Klose is an explicable anomaly. He offers a pedigree unrivalled by anyone in South Africa. His tally of 10 World Cup goals explains why a meagre tally of three Bundesliga strikes this season did not deter Loew from selecting him. On the bench for Bayern Munich, he leads the line for Germany. Klose, however, could do with the validation a goal provides.
Because where a decision has had to be made, Loew has favoured the younger alternative. Neuer is the chosen goalkeeper, not Hans-Jorg Butt, the Bayern veteran. Experienced performers like Torsten Frings, Kevin Kuranyi, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Christoph Metzelder are, for various reasons, at home.
There seemed something symbolic about the precocious Muller inheriting Ballack's No 13 shirt; the baton may have been passed to the younger man.
Whichever, Germany kick off appearing more progressive than France, Italy and England, to name but three. They have fond memories of the 2006 tournament in their homeland; so do Australia, but the Socceroos retain the vast majority of their team as well.
Mirroring the German approach, Pim Verbeek, the assistant manager then, is at the helm now. While Germany should peak in the future, however, his side look past their best. Certainly Australia have not convinced in their warm-up games, although they are far from alone in that respect.
The form of Mark Bresciano and Vince Grella has been particular targets for criticism, while Harry Kewell and Tim Cahill have struggled for fitness, though both are likely to start. Their preparation has also included a visit from John Travolta. Whether that prompts an outbreak of Sunday Night Fever in Durban tonight remains to be seen.
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? Miroslav Klose v Craig Moore
If, as has been hinted, the veteran Klose starts up front for Germany, he will face another seasoned campaigner. Moore, 34, has been without a club since March, but has bags of experience and is dominant in the air, which is where Klose gets many of his goals.
? Bastian Schweinsteiger v Tim Cahill
Schweinsteiger, the Bayern Munich midfielder, has more responsibility on his shoulders with Michael Ballack, the captain, out with injury. He will have to marry controlling the midfield with watching out for Cahill's dangerous runs from deep into the box.
Tactics
A case of young legs v old heads. Germany have their youngest ever squad while the majority of Australia's starters are pushing 30. Their style is direct and physical. Germany, undoubtedly have more quality and they should win. Should.
Player to watch
Harry Kewell
At his peak, the Australian was one of the most feared wingers. That was many years ago. Injuries and poor form have hindered him since but he is capable of magic moments.
Previous meetings
The one and only match between the countries was a thriller - a 4-3 win to Germany at the 2005 Confederations Cup. More of the same please.
Did you know?
Germany have been the World Cup's beaten finalists on a record four occasions. Three times as West Germany (1966, 1982 and 1986) and once as the unified nation (2006).
Watch Algeria v Slovenia (3.30pm), Ghana v Serbia (6pm) and Germany v Australia (10.30pm) all on Aljazeera Sport +9 and Aljazeera World Cup
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
The biog
Family: Parents and four sisters
Education: Bachelor’s degree in business management and marketing at American University of Sharjah
A self-confessed foodie, she enjoys trying out new cuisines, her current favourite is the poke superfood bowls
Likes reading: autobiographies and fiction
Favourite holiday destination: Italy
Posts information about challenges, events, runs in other emirates on the group's Instagram account @Anagowrunning
Has created a database of Emirati and GCC sportspeople on Instagram @abeermk, highlight: Athletes
Apart from training, also talks to women about nutrition, healthy lifestyle, diabetes, cholesterol, blood pressure
In numbers: PKK’s money network in Europe
Germany: PKK collectors typically bring in $18 million in cash a year – amount has trebled since 2010
Revolutionary tax: Investigators say about $2 million a year raised from ‘tax collection’ around Marseille
Extortion: Gunman convicted in 2023 of demanding $10,000 from Kurdish businessman in Stockholm
Drug trade: PKK income claimed by Turkish anti-drugs force in 2024 to be as high as $500 million a year
Denmark: PKK one of two terrorist groups along with Iranian separatists ASMLA to raise “two-digit million amounts”
Contributions: Hundreds of euros expected from typical Kurdish families and thousands from business owners
TV channel: Kurdish Roj TV accounts frozen and went bankrupt after Denmark fined it more than $1 million over PKK links in 2013
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champioons League semi-final:
First leg: Liverpool 5 Roma 2
Second leg: Wednesday, May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
TV: BeIN Sports, 10.45pm (UAE)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
