It’s kind of baffling when you think about it: how a particular football skill can be a national trait. But in Germany, scoring penalties is part of their DNA.
And to think somebody recently introduced a world cup entirely dedicated to them. The other countries might as well get their tracksuit tops now.
In their four victorious shootouts at World Cups, only one player has ever missed – Ulrich Stielike in 1982.
And the consistency extends to the business end. Third in 2010 and 2006, second in 2002, the 1990 champions are bidding for their fourth crown in Brazil. If any team has the credentials to break the European duck in South America, it has to be Germany.
Nevertheless, our German trainee journalist Alina Shron remains unimpressed and subscribes to the view that there are more important national credentials than success from 12 yards.
“Frank Zappa said that to be a real country you need a beer, an airline, some kind of a football team, and nuclear weapons – in that order,” she says.
“The first two are plenty for me. Still, I prefer a football game to a nuclear attack any time of day.”
But can Alina score from 12 yards? She’s German – can you seriously doubt it.
As part of our World Cup coverage this year, our international staff decided it would be fun to dress up in our national shirts for the Copenhagen Post Wallchart, which hit the streets on June 12.
Partly that, and to rub it in the faces of our Danish colleagues that they haven't qualified this time around.
Taking a leaf out of the Jack Charlton guide to national coaching, we sourced a few errant grandfathers and even found room for Scotland.
And just in case you want to 'go local' to watch a game, check out our guide to the best bars in town for finding authentic nationalistic fervour.
