2004 Germany Third – Miroslav Klose #11

The 2004 calendar year was defined by UEFA Euro 2004 in Portugal, a difficult and ultimately disappointing tournament for Germany.

• Euro 2004 Performance:

  • Group Stage: Germany were drawn in Group D alongside the Netherlands, Czech Republic, and Latvia.

  • Results:

    • 1–1 vs. Netherlands (Kurányi scored)

    • 0–0 vs. Latvia (a shock result)

    • 1–2 vs. Czech Republic (Baroš and Heinz scored for the Czechs, Ballack for Germany)

  • Germany finished third in the group and were eliminated in the group stage.

• Managerial Situation: This was the last tournament for Rudi Völler, who resigned after the exit. Later in 2004, Jürgen Klinsmann was appointed to begin rebuilding the national team ahead of the 2006 World Cup.

• Kit: The 2004 third kit was a rare and striking design — a black Adidas shirt with red and gold accents, paying tribute to the German flag. While not worn often, it remains a cult-favorite among collectors for its uniqueness in Germany’s kit history.

2. Player’s Impact – Miroslav Klose (2004)

Miroslav Klose, Germany’s prolific striker, entered Euro 2004 as one of the team’s main attacking threats after his breakout 2002 World Cup (5 goals, all headers).

• Euro 2004 Stats:

  • Played in all 3 group-stage matches.

  • Did not score during the tournament — a disappointment considering his reputation as a reliable goalscorer.

• Role in the Team: Started as a central striker, often paired with Kevin Kurányi or backed by Michael Ballack. Klose worked hard off the ball and remained a target in the air, but Germany’s lack of creativity in midfield limited his chances.

• Legacy at the Time: While Euro 2004 was underwhelming, Klose’s standing in the national team was never in doubt. He would go on to score 5 goals at the 2006 World Cup, eventually becoming Germany’s all-time top scorer and the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history (16 goals).

3. Full Squad List – Germany Euro 2004

Manager: Rudi Völler

Goalkeepers:

• Oliver Kahn (Bayern Munich, Captain)

• Jens Lehmann (Arsenal)

• Frank Rost (Schalke 04)

Defenders:

• Christian Wörns (Borussia Dortmund)

• Arne Friedrich (Hertha BSC)

• Philipp Lahm (Stuttgart)

• Andreas Hinkel (Stuttgart)

• Jens Nowotny (Bayer Leverkusen)

• Frank Baumann (Werder Bremen)

• Thomas Linke (Bayern Munich)

Midfielders:

• Michael Ballack (Bayern Munich)

• Torsten Frings (Borussia Dortmund)

• Bernd Schneider (Bayer Leverkusen)

• Fabian Ernst (Werder Bremen)

• Dietmar Hamann (Liverpool)

• Sebastian Kehl (Borussia Dortmund)

• Christian Ziege (Tottenham Hotspur)

Forwards:

• Miroslav Klose (Werder Bremen)

• Kevin Kurányi (Stuttgart)

• Fredi Bobic (Hannover 96)

• Thomas Brdaric (Hannover 96)

• Lukas Podolski (Cologne, youngest member of the squad)

✅ The 2004 Germany Third Jersey – Miroslav Klose is a rare vintage international soccer jersey, remembered as part of a transitional period for Die Mannschaft. While Euro 2004 ended in disappointment, this kit symbolizes the bridge between the fading golden era of the late 1990s and the rise of players like Klose, Lahm, and Podolski, who would later lead Germany to the 2014 World Cup title. For collectors, it’s an unusual and striking piece of kit history tied to one of the greatest strikers of all time.