The German national team is on the home straight for 2018 World Cup qualification. If Joachim Löw’s side comes away with at least a point in their away fixture in Northern Ireland on the 5th October, then they will confirm their spot for the finals in Russia next year. The final game in the qualification campaign will take place three days later, as Azerbaijan come to Kaiserslautern to play the current World Champions.
18 of the 23 players who have made the squad were part of the team that also won the Confederations Cup in Russia this year. Leroy Sané and Jérôme Boateng make their return to the squad after an extended period on the outside looking in. Captain Manuel Neuer, as well as Jonas Hector and Mario Gomez, will all miss out due to injuries. Also unavailable for selection were Mesut Özil (knee issues) and Sami Khedira (thigh).
“It’s unfortunate that a few of our most experienced players weren’t available for selection,” says Joachim Löw. “In the cases of Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, I think that it will do them good in the long run to be rested throughout the international break. That’s the most important thing at the moment. It’s critical that they’re at full fitness for the next year.
Löw: “We need to see this through”
Löw was very clear when speaking before the final two qualifiers that “we want to continue the strong campaign we’ve had so far. We still want to win all ten games. We need to see this through successfully, all the way to the end. When we play to our strengths, that will happen.”
The situation in group C is very clear. Germany have won all of the eight games that they’ve played so far, and are leading the standings with 24 points. Closely behind them are their next two opponents, with Northern Ireland (19 points) in second and Azerbaijan (10 points) in third. In places fourth, fifth and sixth are the Czech Republic (9), Norway (7) and San Marino (0).
“We’re all looking forward to what will be a big game in Belfast. We know that they’re a good team already, thanks to the fact that they haven’t conceded a single goal other than in the game against us.”
History on Germany’s side
Germany beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in October of last year, and before that the Germans came out on top again in a 1-0 victory in Paris in the 2016 European Championships. The history between the two sides is in Germany’s favour on the whole. The German national side has won ten of the 16 games that have been played before now. Four other encounters ended in draws, while Northern Ireland have only won twice.
Germany’s record against Azerbaijan however, is spotless. They have won all five games that have been played to this point. The last game ended in a 4-1 Germany victory in Baku on 26th March 2017. Joachim Löw wants his team to “end things on a high note against Azerbaijan, and come away with a quality victory.”
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The German national team is on the home straight for 2018 World Cup qualification. If Joachim Löw’s side comes away with at least a point in their away fixture in Northern Ireland on the 5th October, then they will confirm their spot for the finals in Russia next year. The final game in the qualification campaign will take place three days later, as Azerbaijan come to Kaiserslautern to play the current World Champions.
18 of the 23 players who have made the squad were part of the team that also won the Confederations Cup in Russia this year. Leroy Sané and Jérôme Boateng make their return to the squad after an extended period on the outside looking in. Captain Manuel Neuer, as well as Jonas Hector and Mario Gomez, will all miss out due to injuries. Also unavailable for selection were Mesut Özil (knee issues) and Sami Khedira (thigh).
“It’s unfortunate that a few of our most experienced players weren’t available for selection,” says Joachim Löw. “In the cases of Mesut Özil and Sami Khedira, I think that it will do them good in the long run to be rested throughout the international break. That’s the most important thing at the moment. It’s critical that they’re at full fitness for the next year.
Löw: “We need to see this through”
Löw was very clear when speaking before the final two qualifiers that “we want to continue the strong campaign we’ve had so far. We still want to win all ten games. We need to see this through successfully, all the way to the end. When we play to our strengths, that will happen.”
The situation in group C is very clear. Germany have won all of the eight games that they’ve played so far, and are leading the standings with 24 points. Closely behind them are their next two opponents, with Northern Ireland (19 points) in second and Azerbaijan (10 points) in third. In places fourth, fifth and sixth are the Czech Republic (9), Norway (7) and San Marino (0).
“We’re all looking forward to what will be a big game in Belfast. We know that they’re a good team already, thanks to the fact that they haven’t conceded a single goal other than in the game against us.”
History on Germany’s side
Germany beat Northern Ireland 2-0 in October of last year, and before that the Germans came out on top again in a 1-0 victory in Paris in the 2016 European Championships. The history between the two sides is in Germany’s favour on the whole. The German national side has won ten of the 16 games that have been played before now. Four other encounters ended in draws, while Northern Ireland have only won twice.
Germany’s record against Azerbaijan however, is spotless. They have won all five games that have been played to this point. The last game ended in a 4-1 Germany victory in Baku on 26th March 2017. Joachim Löw wants his team to “end things on a high note against Azerbaijan, and come away with a quality victory.”
