Home - News - article
Podolski promises better displays from Germany at Euro 2012
Posted Tuesday, May 29, 2012 by Goal.com

Podolski promises better displays from Germany at Euro 2012

Lukas Podolski has declared that Germany will be back to their best at Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine after a humbling 5-3 defeat to Switzerland in Basel on Saturday.

The striker, who recently confirmed his transfer to Arsenal, has promised better displays from Joachim Low's side and that the return of the Bayern Munich players to the squad will herald a major improvement.

Podolski told the national team's website: "Of course defeats like this shouldn't happen and they hurt, and losing 5-3 to Switzerland is definitely not on, but I can promise there will be a different team on the field [against Portugal on June 9.

"It has been the same in previous years, when we lost 4-1 to Italy [in 2006], for example.

"We have got to live with the criticism. We are all focusing on Portugal and have got to be fit for that game, and we will be fit.

"There is no doubt that with the eight Bayern players here, the quality improves. They are top guys and we have missed them."

The side were given leave to attended the Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday to take their minds off the shock defeat in Basel, in which Eren Derdiyok got a hat-trick for Ottmar Hitzfeld's side.

"It was a good day for us to get our heads free," Podolski stated.

"I enjoyed it and the lads enjoyed it too, but now we are focusing on the Euros."

Standings
    Rank Team W/D/L Pts

    Cities & Stadiums

    The Top 3 Teams of Previous Tournaments

    Year Winners Runner-up Third place
    2008SpainGermanyRussia / Turkey
    2004GreecePortugalNetherlands / Czech Republic
    2000FranceItalyNetherlands / Portugal
    1996GermanyCzech RepublicFrance / England
    1992DenmarkGermanyNetherlands / Sweden
    1988NetherlandsSoviet UnionItaly / West Germany
    1984FranceSpainDenmark / Portugal
    1980West GermanyBelgiumCzechoslovakia
    1976CzechoslovakiaWest GermanyNetherlands
    1972West GermanySoviet UnionBelgium
    1968ItalyYugoslaviaEngland
    1964SpainSoviet UnionHungary
    1960Soviet UnionYugoslaviaCzechoslovakia