I would assume that the War Chiefs will be available in Italy eventually, not sure of the date though. Check a local retailer for information.
As for the Germans, they seem to now be one of the lesser civs along with Portugal. But they're not too far behind, and balance shouldn't discourage you. Germans and Ports were my favourite European civs anyway.
"You cannot discover an inhabited land. Otherwise I could cross the Atlantic and 'discover' England."
- Dekhatkadons, Onondaga Iroquois chief.