The Germany national team suffered another setback in their EURO 2016 qualifying campaign. Three days after the 2-0 loss in Poland, Joachim Löw’s World Champions were held to a 1-1 draw by the Republic of Ireland.
Toni Kroos’ 71st-minute strike looked to be enough for the three points, but John O’Shea grabbed a shock equaliser in the last minute of stoppage time on his 100th international appearance.
Draxler and Ginter replace Schürrle and Kramer
The DFB-Team had problems from the start against an Irish side ranked 62nd in the world. The “Boys in Green” spent most of the game with ten men behind the ball in front of the 51,204 fans in FC Schalke 04’s stadium. Captain Robbie Keane was the only Ireland player forward. The visitors made their intentions very clear early on.
Schalke’s Julian Draxler, who was essentially playing a home game in the Veltins-Arena, was one of two new faces in the starting line-up. He played on the left flank in place of the sick André Schürrle. Christoph Kramer, who was also unavailable due to illness, was replaced in midfield by Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter.
The full backs were once again Antonio Rüdiger and Erik Durm, with the latter hitting the crossbar with a venomous volley in the fifth minute. Karim Bellarabi was given his chance on the right wing again and was the most present Germany player at the start, but he kept running into an Irish wall.
Although the DFB-Team had planned to make the most of quick interchanging play, it wasn’t on display often enough. When they did get the ball moving about quickly, chances emerged, but Kroos’ effort after Draxler initially failed to get a shot away went wide of the target.
Rüdiger then had a much better chance to score after a well-worked free kick, but put a free header well wide of the goal. Bellarabi also tried again to make his mark, although his shot was charged down and failed to test David Forde in goal. Shortly before the break, Draxler burst into the box on the left, only for his shot from a tight angle to be comfortably parried away by the Irish keeper.
Podolski gets cap number 120
During the interval, Löw brought on Lukas Podolski for Ginter, hoping to add something different going forward. However, the 29-year-old’s first action on his 120th international appearance was to misplace a pass and give the visitors their first chance. A dangerous ball in from Keane was well gathered by Manuel Neuer though.
Ireland remained true to their defensive style in the phase that followed, while the DFB-Team looked to pile on the pressure, but chances from Bellarabi, Kroos and Müller all went begging. The World Champions were camped out in Ireland’s half, however, the decisive pass was lacking. It took a well-placed Toni Kroos shot from 25 yards to finally break the deadlock in the 71st minute. There was a scare five minutes from time when substitute Wes Hoolahan looked set to turn the ball home from six yards after a whipped ball in, but Durm got across brilliantly to make the block.
It looked to be just about job done as we entered the final minute of stoppage time, but Ireland pushed forward late on and an advanced John O’Shea was in the right place and the right time. The Sunderland man poked home from close range to deny Germany a much needed win and claim a shock point for the Republic of Ireland.
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The Germany national team suffered another setback in their EURO 2016 qualifying campaign. Three days after the 2-0 loss in Poland, Joachim Löw’s World Champions were held to a 1-1 draw by the Republic of Ireland.
Toni Kroos’ 71st-minute strike looked to be enough for the three points, but John O’Shea grabbed a shock equaliser in the last minute of stoppage time on his 100th international appearance.
Draxler and Ginter replace Schürrle and Kramer
The DFB-Team had problems from the start against an Irish side ranked 62nd in the world. The “Boys in Green” spent most of the game with ten men behind the ball in front of the 51,204 fans in FC Schalke 04’s stadium. Captain Robbie Keane was the only Ireland player forward. The visitors made their intentions very clear early on.
Schalke’s Julian Draxler, who was essentially playing a home game in the Veltins-Arena, was one of two new faces in the starting line-up. He played on the left flank in place of the sick André Schürrle. Christoph Kramer, who was also unavailable due to illness, was replaced in midfield by Dortmund’s Matthias Ginter.
The full backs were once again Antonio Rüdiger and Erik Durm, with the latter hitting the crossbar with a venomous volley in the fifth minute. Karim Bellarabi was given his chance on the right wing again and was the most present Germany player at the start, but he kept running into an Irish wall.
Although the DFB-Team had planned to make the most of quick interchanging play, it wasn’t on display often enough. When they did get the ball moving about quickly, chances emerged, but Kroos’ effort after Draxler initially failed to get a shot away went wide of the target.
Rüdiger then had a much better chance to score after a well-worked free kick, but put a free header well wide of the goal. Bellarabi also tried again to make his mark, although his shot was charged down and failed to test David Forde in goal. Shortly before the break, Draxler burst into the box on the left, only for his shot from a tight angle to be comfortably parried away by the Irish keeper.
Podolski gets cap number 120
During the interval, Löw brought on Lukas Podolski for Ginter, hoping to add something different going forward. However, the 29-year-old’s first action on his 120th international appearance was to misplace a pass and give the visitors their first chance. A dangerous ball in from Keane was well gathered by Manuel Neuer though.
Ireland remained true to their defensive style in the phase that followed, while the DFB-Team looked to pile on the pressure, but chances from Bellarabi, Kroos and Müller all went begging. The World Champions were camped out in Ireland’s half, however, the decisive pass was lacking. It took a well-placed Toni Kroos shot from 25 yards to finally break the deadlock in the 71st minute. There was a scare five minutes from time when substitute Wes Hoolahan looked set to turn the ball home from six yards after a whipped ball in, but Durm got across brilliantly to make the block.
It looked to be just about job done as we entered the final minute of stoppage time, but Ireland pushed forward late on and an advanced John O’Shea was in the right place and the right time. The Sunderland man poked home from close range to deny Germany a much needed win and claim a shock point for the Republic of Ireland.
