Most Germans had their doubts after their team struggled to beat Algeria 2-1 in a surprisingly close game. But defender Per Mertesacker would have none of it, ripping into a TV reporter who questioned his team's performance after the game.
In Berlin's Kreuzberg district, the stand-off between 40 refugees and hundreds of police came to an end this week. The refugees can stay in the former school building they have occupied for a year and a half.
Lawmakers had a busy last week before taking the summer off. On Wednesday, Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told them the German military needed armed drones.
And on Thursday, MPs overwhelmingly voted to introduce a minimum wage of €8.50 at the beginning of next year. They also allowed children born in Germany to non-EU immigrants to hold dual citizenship.
One MP avoided the Bundestag this week. Michael Hartmann resigned as the Social Democrat's interior policy expert after police suspected him of having bought crystal meth.
In the Northern city of Lübeck, a husband and his wife died in an apparent drive-by shooting. The main suspect, one of the victim's ex-husband, was later found dead.
And police in Cologne apologized to a one-armed man after it became public that they had fined him €25. His offence? Having only one hand break on his bike.
CLICK HERE to see this week's gallery
Please whitelist us to continue reading.
Member comments