Northern Ireland in Group F meanwhile need a win in either of their two remaining games, at home to Greece and away to Finland. It’ll be a nervy night in Dublin – and with Poland playing Scotland, a few of those nerves will be focused on what is going on elsewhere.
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“As you can imagine, it’s been fairly hectic”, said Keane.
Ireland took one point in last match against Germany thanks to late equalizer John O’Shea scored in 94 minute. There was already a doubt about Stoke’s Marc Wilson and, with Glenn Whelan suspended, a trio of defensive players who would have expected to be busy against Mario Götze and co are missing. Germany will be without Lukas Podolski due to injury.
The outfield players chosen this time are the same as the last squad-which means no place for a number of individuals still hoping to break into the squad before the finals.
Both nations are up against it to secure automatic qualification for Euro 2016, with the third-place play-off spot looking a more realistic prospect, with Scotland needing to make up ground and the Republic facing tough closing fixtures.
“I hope things will go the same way for us as they did back then”, said Boateng, who is set to win his 55th cap. That is especially because it would extinguish all the optimism that existed at the start of the campaign where the consensus seemed to be that Gordon Strachan was the man to end their barren run and take full advantage of the competition’s expansion to 24 teams.
Ireland assistant Roy Keane: “I think we are a stronger team [than when we drew in Germany]”.
Cyrus Christie did acquit himself well in Portugal against Gibraltar, but you’re really talking about an amateur team there. Ukraine, with 16 points, are at present the “best” third-placed team. “When you start winning games, then confidence is coming in, and that’s always good”. It has not been discussed yet, but I don’t think we are going to aim to get the point we need and play a tactical game that way.
Germany have also had the most shots in qualifying so far (147), 28 more than next best Belgium (119). “They have a lot of high quality players”. If next clash can be judged by the last journey of Germany to Dublin, Ireland will be up to his neck in trouble. The only bad scenario in their position would be to lose and for Scotland to win, and neither you or me would put our money into that bet.
The striker confirmed that he had only two hours in the hospital before departing for Ireland after his wife gave birth during the week but he’s back in Dublin and he’s ready.
The reverse match between these teams ended in a 1-1 draw in Gelsenkirchen on 14 October 2014.
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Toni Kroos has made 859 passes during qualification so far, at least 153 more than any other player. That was until, last month when Scotland went to Georgia and came home with a defeat.
