The Germany national team, who are yet to lose a point in the World Cup qualifiers, will meet the Czech Republic tonight (20:45 CEST) for their seventh qualification fixture in the Eden Arena, home to SK Slavia Prague. Assistant coach Marcus Sorg speaks on the Germans’ targets.
DFB.de: Football fans are passionately debating whether a back three or a back four is best at the moment. Marcus Sorg, tell us if the team has trained in both formations this week.
Marcus Sorg: Sure, we’ve practised both formations. But the style of football we want to play is more important than the formation. We got to know a lot of players better during the Confed Cup. We now have alternatives in several positions so we can vary our tactics more now. Regardless of this, we should try out different formations and put them into place.
DFB.de: What have the coaching staff been preparing the team for in tonight’s match.
Marcus Sorg: The Czechs have a fantastic football team. Due to their position in the table, they have to do everything they can tonight to score some points otherwise their deficit to Northern Ireland will grow. We want to start the game with maximum concentration and we want to seize control of the game through winning the key battles, pressing and consistent passing from the off. Then their footballing quality, which they unquestionably have, won’t be able to take effect.
DFB.de: Will the Czechs park the bus?
Marcus Sorg: Not necessarily. They were markedly attacking for phases during the first leg match in Hamburg because they were pressing up the pitch, but we didn’t let it get to us. We have the quality to create chances regardless of whether they’re standing deep or up front. They’ll be highly motivated because the group’s in the decisive phase for them and because everyone’s more motivated against the World champions.
DFB.de: Efficiency over dominance – that seemed to be the slogan at the Confed Cup in the summer. You only had 39% possession in the 4-1 win over Mexico and only 34% in the final against Chile, but you still had more big chances. Is that a change of tack?
The Germany national team, who are yet to lose a point in the World Cup qualifiers, will meet the Czech Republic tonight (20:45 CEST) for their seventh qualification fixture in the Eden Arena, home to SK Slavia Prague. Assistant coach Marcus Sorg speaks on the Germans’ targets.
DFB.de: Football fans are passionately debating whether a back three or a back four is best at the moment. Marcus Sorg, tell us if the team has trained in both formations this week.
Marcus Sorg: Sure, we’ve practised both formations. But the style of football we want to play is more important than the formation. We got to know a lot of players better during the Confed Cup. We now have alternatives in several positions so we can vary our tactics more now. Regardless of this, we should try out different formations and put them into place.
DFB.de: What have the coaching staff been preparing the team for in tonight’s match.
Marcus Sorg: The Czechs have a fantastic football team. Due to their position in the table, they have to do everything they can tonight to score some points otherwise their deficit to Northern Ireland will grow. We want to start the game with maximum concentration and we want to seize control of the game through winning the key battles, pressing and consistent passing from the off. Then their footballing quality, which they unquestionably have, won’t be able to take effect.
DFB.de: Will the Czechs park the bus?
Marcus Sorg: Not necessarily. They were markedly attacking for phases during the first leg match in Hamburg because they were pressing up the pitch, but we didn’t let it get to us. We have the quality to create chances regardless of whether they’re standing deep or up front. They’ll be highly motivated because the group’s in the decisive phase for them and because everyone’s more motivated against the World champions.
DFB.de: Efficiency over dominance – that seemed to be the slogan at the Confed Cup in the summer. You only had 39% possession in the 4-1 win over Mexico and only 34% in the final against Chile, but you still had more big chances. Is that a change of tack?
Marcus Sorg: Those numbers from the summer were due to the opponents and our changed squad. We want to control the game like we have before and that will always be what we aspire to do, regardless of who we’re playing. It’s clear with Toni Kroos, Mesut Özil, Sebastian Rudy and others that our strength lies in possession. They’re all players who truly love to play with the ball at their feet. We want to carry on using our strengths in the upcoming games, namely dominance and high possession.
DFB.de: Germany are having the best World Cup qualification campaign of any European country after six games. Six wins and 27 goals to one is also the best record after six games in the qualifiers in Germany’s history. Is that making you or anyone else nervous?
Marcus Sorg: Personally, that doesn’t matter much to me. What’s in the past is in the past; we just want to play the best football we can. Records like this are nice to have, but the key thing is to achieve our targets and aspirations.
DFB.de: What did you personally think of France yesterday evening?
Marcus Sorg: France are a good team and have depth in their squad; they have good options going forward. It was entertaining to watch them play, but if I’ve learned anything in life, it’s that every game is different. When the day comes that we meet the French, we’ll be ready.
