Germans on brink of perfect qualification
Reuters - Wednesday 31 August 2011, 11:13
BERLIN - Coach Joachim Low's team have
set their sights higher than just beating Austria on Friday to
book a Euro 2012 spot, saying they want to become the first
German team to advance to a major tournament with a 100 percent
record in qualifying.
A win at home to Austria in Gelsenkirchen in their Group A
qualifier would put Germany through with two games to spare and
would take their qualifying record to eight wins out of eight
games.
"What we want to focus on now is to seal qualification and
on Friday we have a huge chance at home against Austria to
achieve this," captain Philipp Lahm told reporters.
"It has never happened before that a German team wins all
qualifiers. We will do everything we can on Friday to give the
Austrians no chance."
Despite a string of injuries that have reduced Loew's squad
to just 18 outfield players, the Germany coach is confident
absentees like Sami Khedira, Sven Bender, Marco Reus and top
league scorer Mario Gomez will not be missed.
Whether he plays his usual 4-2-3-1 system or opts for a more
versatile 4-1-4-1, Low is determined to make his midfielders
run.
Even without Khedira to partner Bastian Schweinsteiger in
midfield, Low has the luxury of being able to deploy hugely
talented Mesut Ozil and Mario Gotze in the offensive midfield.
"It is not necessary that we always play with two on the six
position [defensive midfield]," Low told reporters. "But every
midfielder needs to go forward and help in the back as well.
That's what the game dictates these days."
The other options for a starting spot in midfield are Toni
Kroos, Thomas Muller and Andre Schuerrle.
Fourth-placed Austria have a far more challenging task with
seven points from six games compared to Germany's 21 from seven.
Belgium are on 11 from seven games, one ahead of Turkey who have
a game in hand.
With only slim chances of advancing to the tournament being
co-hosted by Poland and Ukraine next year, Didi Constantini's
team need to win in Germany and have even recalled troubled
striker Marko Arnautovic.
The Werder Bremen forward was banned from the team earlier
this year after fighting with his team mates but a return to
form in the Bundesliga has earned him a surprise call-up.
Austria, who entertain Turkey on September 6, will need all the
firepower they can get against neighbours Germany, to whom they
have lost the last six matches.