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Cape Town - With a little over 24 hours until the much anticipated 2014 Soccer World Cup kicks-off, Germany and Bayern Munich skipper Phillip Lahm has admitted that he and his team-mates are feeling the pressure to live up to expectations due to their heroics of the previous three editions of the tournament.
The three-time winners have been drawn in a tough Group G pool alongside Ghana, USA and Portugal.
The Germans managed to advance to the semi-finals of the previous three global spectacles - including the final in 2002 in South Korea and Japan - but lost on each occasion.
The 30-year-old full-back believes the Germans have a good chance to progress to the knock-out stages in Brazil due to the quality of players within their team.
“We have a very good team and high quality players among us,” said Lahm.
“We have the pressure to perform well and to do better than the last time.
“Maybe it is a self-imposed pressure.
“Because we have been very successful in the previous tournament.”
Germany started like a house on fire at the 2010 campaign in South Africa before their semi-final elimination by the eventual winners, Spain.
They suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban courtesy of a Carlos Puyol second half header.
They will begin their quest for a fourth FIFA crown against Portugal on June 16 at the Arena Fonte Nova stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 SA time.
The three-time winners have been drawn in a tough Group G pool alongside Ghana, USA and Portugal.
The Germans managed to advance to the semi-finals of the previous three global spectacles - including the final in 2002 in South Korea and Japan - but lost on each occasion.
The 30-year-old full-back believes the Germans have a good chance to progress to the knock-out stages in Brazil due to the quality of players within their team.
“We have a very good team and high quality players among us,” said Lahm.
“We have the pressure to perform well and to do better than the last time.
“Maybe it is a self-imposed pressure.
“Because we have been very successful in the previous tournament.”
Germany started like a house on fire at the 2010 campaign in South Africa before their semi-final elimination by the eventual winners, Spain.
They suffered a 1-0 defeat at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban courtesy of a Carlos Puyol second half header.
They will begin their quest for a fourth FIFA crown against Portugal on June 16 at the Arena Fonte Nova stadium.
Kick-off is scheduled for 18:00 SA time.
