Ireland and Georgia next on the agenda, France beckoning on the horizon: the German national team are heading into the final round of European qualifiers on 8th October against Ireland in Dublin (20:45 CEST) and against Georgia in Leipzig (20:45 CEST) with a full squad of 23 players.
Die Mannschaft will be led by captain Bastian Schweinsteiger. Marco Reus returns to the squad after missing September’s qualifiers due to injury. Otherwise, there is just one change to the squad for the games against Poland and Scotland, with Bernd Leno joining Marc-André ter Stegen as Manuel Neuer’s back-up goalkeepers.
Köpke: "Leno deserves the call-up"
Germany head coach Joachim Löw said: "We want to take qualification seriously and stay concentrated until the end. Our aim is to win both games against Ireland and Georgia so we can qualify for the European Championship in France as group winners. I have great faith in the players, who did a brilliant job back in September. These players are constantly challenged with their clubs in both the league and in Europe; they are in a good rhythm. It’s a great time to go into these decisive group games.”
Andreas Köpke spoke out about the goalkeeping situation: "I have already said that we have multiple goalkeeping options beyond Manuel Neuer. We’re in a comfortable position and there’s no need to make any final decisions just yet. I also said that to Ron-Robert Zieler. We know what he can do and what we have in him. Bernd Leno deserves this call-up after his consistently good performances at Bayer Leverkusen, the same goes for Marc-André ter Stegen who we have been watching for a while now. Both took part in the European Under-21 Championship in the summer, now we want to get them involved with the senior team.”
Germany need a point to qualify
With 19 points from eight games, Germany are currently top of Group D. Poland (17 points) and Ireland (15) sit in second and third place behind them, with Scotland fourth with eleven points. Georgia (six points) and Gibraltar (zero points) make up the rest of the group, though neither side can qualify for the tournament in France. The top two from each of the nine groups, as well as the best third-placed side, qualify automatically for the EUROs, with the remaining eight third-placed sides competing in a play-off for the remaining four places.
Joachim Löw’s team therefore need just a single point from their remaining two games to guarantee automatic qualification for EURO 2016. “The only thing we’re concerned about is finishing top of the group and secure direct passage to the EUROs,” said the head coach. “Once qualification is over, we have a news situation where we will definitely be experimenting.”
Löw: "We won’t underestimate Georgia"
Germany have played against Ireland on 19 occasions previously with a record of nine wins, five draws and five defeats. The record against Georgia is even more conclusive: four games, four wins. Germany drew 1-1 with Ireland at Gelsenkirchen in the current qualifying group, but beat Georgia 2-0 in Tbilisi.
On Germany’s first opponents, Löw admitted: “We knew how dangerous Ireland were long before our home fixture against them. Playing them in Dublin is certainly no easy game. We can expect an incredible atmosphere; the Irish fans will get right behind their team and fire them on until the final whistle. We need to keep a cool head and be patient in order to win there. But if we play to our potential and concentrate on our qualities, we will create chances. I’m excited for the game and the atmosphere in Dublin.”
Ireland and Georgia next on the agenda, France beckoning on the horizon: the German national team are heading into the final round of European qualifiers on 8th October against Ireland in Dublin (20:45 CEST) and against Georgia in Leipzig (20:45 CEST) with a full squad of 23 players.
Die Mannschaft will be led by captain Bastian Schweinsteiger. Marco Reus returns to the squad after missing September’s qualifiers due to injury. Otherwise, there is just one change to the squad for the games against Poland and Scotland, with Bernd Leno joining Marc-André ter Stegen as Manuel Neuer’s back-up goalkeepers.
Köpke: "Leno deserves the call-up"
Germany head coach Joachim Löw said: "We want to take qualification seriously and stay concentrated until the end. Our aim is to win both games against Ireland and Georgia so we can qualify for the European Championship in France as group winners. I have great faith in the players, who did a brilliant job back in September. These players are constantly challenged with their clubs in both the league and in Europe; they are in a good rhythm. It’s a great time to go into these decisive group games.”
Andreas Köpke spoke out about the goalkeeping situation: "I have already said that we have multiple goalkeeping options beyond Manuel Neuer. We’re in a comfortable position and there’s no need to make any final decisions just yet. I also said that to Ron-Robert Zieler. We know what he can do and what we have in him. Bernd Leno deserves this call-up after his consistently good performances at Bayer Leverkusen, the same goes for Marc-André ter Stegen who we have been watching for a while now. Both took part in the European Under-21 Championship in the summer, now we want to get them involved with the senior team.”
Germany need a point to qualify
With 19 points from eight games, Germany are currently top of Group D. Poland (17 points) and Ireland (15) sit in second and third place behind them, with Scotland fourth with eleven points. Georgia (six points) and Gibraltar (zero points) make up the rest of the group, though neither side can qualify for the tournament in France. The top two from each of the nine groups, as well as the best third-placed side, qualify automatically for the EUROs, with the remaining eight third-placed sides competing in a play-off for the remaining four places.
Joachim Löw’s team therefore need just a single point from their remaining two games to guarantee automatic qualification for EURO 2016. “The only thing we’re concerned about is finishing top of the group and secure direct passage to the EUROs,” said the head coach. “Once qualification is over, we have a news situation where we will definitely be experimenting.”
Löw: "We won’t underestimate Georgia"
Germany have played against Ireland on 19 occasions previously with a record of nine wins, five draws and five defeats. The record against Georgia is even more conclusive: four games, four wins. Germany drew 1-1 with Ireland at Gelsenkirchen in the current qualifying group, but beat Georgia 2-0 in Tbilisi.
On Germany’s first opponents, Löw admitted: “We knew how dangerous Ireland were long before our home fixture against them. Playing them in Dublin is certainly no easy game. We can expect an incredible atmosphere; the Irish fans will get right behind their team and fire them on until the final whistle. We need to keep a cool head and be patient in order to win there. But if we play to our potential and concentrate on our qualities, we will create chances. I’m excited for the game and the atmosphere in Dublin.”
And on the final qualifier, the head coach said: “In Leipzig we want to put on a strong performance to round off the qualification in front of our home fans. We won’t underestimate the Georgian’s, we will take them seriously and prepare fully. They have nothing to lose and will give everything against the World Champions. Leipzig is a special place for us to play; the fans love to watch the national team there. For me personally, our third-placed play-off match during the 2005 Confederations Cup against Mexico [4-3 after extra time] will always remain a special memory for me.”
