Germany is currently ranked No. 1 in Europe because it won the 2005 World Games where Australia, France, Sweden and Germany competed. In the tourney, Germany was so dominant defensively, shutting out Australia 31-0 and giving up only two field goals to Sweden in the final for a 20-6 triumph.

Eleven players were named the World Games All-Star team and eight of them, including tournament MVP Joachim Ullrich (quarterback), made the 75-man provisional squad for the third World Championship in Kawasaki.

Ullrich has been with the German national team since 1997 and was the starting quarterback in the 2003 World Championship. Ullrich earned the NFL Europa championship ring as a member of the Frankfurt Galaxy in 1999.

Of the 75-man squad, five players has just concluded their season at the NFL Europa, with two players – tight end Florian Pawlik and offensive tackle Kevin Ansu-Yeboah – playing for the Galaxy in the World Bowl.

Of the all German players that have played in the NFL Europa before, safety Richard Yancy has the most decent experience in the professional football. Yancy, who has spent eight seasons in the NFL Europa, was the starter at safety for the Rhein Fire in the 2004 and 2005 seasons. He belonged to the San Francisco 49ers’ International Development Practice Squad Program in 2004 and the San Diego Chargers’ practice squad in 2005. Yancy was a member of the 2001 Berlins Thunder team, who won the World Bowl.

Yancy’s fellow safety will be Oliver Flemming, who finished his third season with the Thunder. Flemming recorded 13 tackles and 9 special team stops this past season. The combination of Yancy and Flemming will stabilize the Germany’s passing defense and is one of the reasons Germany is expected to win some games defensively.

Germany is scheduled to play Korea on Sunday, July 8 and the United States on Thursday, July 12 in Pool 2.