“I thought we were a little bit unfortunate to lose it in the end but we didn’t create as much as we have been doing in the final third, which was frustrating”.
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“They are physically stronger than Scotland, also in a few of their attacking play, they play more imaginatively than the Scots, so we have to be looking out for that”.
For the neutral or the outsider, the sheer volume of offensive talent available to Germany is as exciting as Low believes the match itself will be, highlighting the “amazing atmosphere” the teams are likely to face in Dublin. When it’s good it sticks in your mind and you never forget it.
“But as a player, you want to play against the best”.
“The heat is on, the pressure is on, and this is where you find things out about yourself. They should enjoy it, that’s what the game is about”.
The last time Germany visited Dublin they hit the Boys in Green for six.
Germany will have just two training sessions together before flying to Dublin, but despite the short preparation time, the world champions will be ready, insisted Gundogan. But coach Joachim Löw is taking nothing for granted, especially after being held to a 1-1 draw when the sides clashed in Gelsenkirchen past year.
While it didn’t all shake out too well for Ireland come the actual tournament, Germany only ended up going a round further than us – exiting to Bulgaria in the quarter-final.
With their players finding themselves again, Germany have hit form after an indifferent start to the campaign, brought on by what was an almost-inevitable World Cup hangover.
Whittaker and Russell Martin are locked in direct combat with Republic of Ireland club-mates Wes Hoolahan and Robbie Brady ahead of the final two matches in Group D as the rivals compete for a play-off place. John O’Shea scored trick shot equalizer snatched a potentially invaluable point. In fact, Ireland’s last three goals against Germany have been scored in the 90th minute.
The former Norwich City front man, who has five goals for the Rams this season, is hoping to earn a chance to have more of an impact on the global stage.
A win would secure a playoff place in the group, while also keeping alive Martin O’Neill’s hopes of automatic qualification.
O’Neill has lost just one of those 11 matches (W6 D4).
Germany remain a huge force and have so many players to choose from that it’s tough to see them being anything other than one of the contenders for Euro 2016 as well. The worst possible scenario is another bite in the play-offs.
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Dortmund winger Marco Reus is set to feature off the bench, but is unlikely to start as he works his way back after a toe injury. The Bayern forward will have zero problems in picking out the makeshift Ireland defence and will most certainly feature at least once on the scorecard tomorrow night.
