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GERMANY PREPARE TO BATTLE FINAL WORLD CUP TEST AGAINST ARMENIA
Deutsche Welle, Germany
June 5 2014
Germany head for Brazil at the weekend after a difficult final few
weeks of preparation - on and off the pitch. The final warm-up fixture
against Armenia is a chance to lift the spirits ahead of the World Cup.
Germany will conclude their preparations for Brazil on Friday with a
friendly against Armenia in Mainz. Fitness concerns remain, however,
surrounding goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who won't train until the team
arrives in South America on Saturday.
Neuer was left out of the German side that faced Cameroon on Sunday,
as his recovery from a shoulder problem lasts longer than planned -
but there is "no doubt" the keeper will have regained fitness in time
for the Portugal clash on June 16.
The squad returned to Dusseldorf on Sunday after a training camp in
South Tyrol that lasted 10 days and helped to improve the physical
condition of the team. Several warm-up games against the accompanying
U20 squad proved to be a decent preparation.
The team went its separate ways on Monday afternoon - but Lahm,
Neuer and Schweinsteiger returned to Munich and spent the half-week
with the Bayern medical staff.
One final training session takes place in Mainz - which is hosting an
international match for the first time - before the last game against
the Armenians.
"Lahm and Bastian have no problems any more and they have been training
with the ball," Low said on Thursday.
"They will have some playing time. What is important though is that
they are problem-free. Maybe it makes no sense to play the entire 90
minutes but exactly how long is something I will decide this evening."
"Preparations, from my point of view, have worked out very well with
the players we had. I also think it was important for the players to
rest a couple of days (this week), for them to recover some energy."
Germany must sharpen up
Low and his players have been on the defensive this week following
Sunday's 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Monchengladbach.
Germany return to Dusseldorf after training camp in Austria
The Germans lacked thrust and energy in attack, with Mesut Ozil,
for one, on the end of some strong criticism over his performances
for the national team. The Arsenal attacking-midfielder has been
struggling for confidence in recent months, but his coach was quick
to protect the 25-year-old.
"To be honest I am a bit surprised by the reaction against Mesut,"
Low added at the pre-match press conference.
"Mesut won German national team player of the year last season but
it is clear that he has not performed to the fullest of his abilities
in the past few games."
Matches against Chile, meanwhile, highlighted how vulnerable the
team remains in defensive positions, as the South Americans somehow
failed to secure even a draw in Stuttgart, having dominated most of
the proceedings.
In other matches, a lackluster touch in the attacking-third has
appeared the largest threat to Germany's hopes of winning a fourth
World Cup.
The DFB team fired a blank against Poland in Hamburg, whilst
the Cameroon defense was rarely questioned with conviction. The
introduction of Lukas Podolski carried some intent in attacking
positions and the Arsenal attacker was pivotal in Germany's turnaround,
before Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting equalized.
Armenia, with Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in their ranks,
won't be heading to the World Cup themselves, but will still offer
sturdy opposition for the Germans. The feeling around the team's
chances has been negative - perhaps realistic - and many are expecting
Germany to return from Brazil empty-handed.
That should do little to qualm the enthusiasm of the fans on Friday
who will demand a strong victory to round-off World Cup preparations.
http://www.dw.de/germany-prepare-to-battle-final-world-cup-test-against-armenia/a-17686145
Deutsche Welle, Germany
June 5 2014
Germany head for Brazil at the weekend after a difficult final few
weeks of preparation - on and off the pitch. The final warm-up fixture
against Armenia is a chance to lift the spirits ahead of the World Cup.
Germany will conclude their preparations for Brazil on Friday with a
friendly against Armenia in Mainz. Fitness concerns remain, however,
surrounding goalkeeper Manuel Neuer who won't train until the team
arrives in South America on Saturday.
Neuer was left out of the German side that faced Cameroon on Sunday,
as his recovery from a shoulder problem lasts longer than planned -
but there is "no doubt" the keeper will have regained fitness in time
for the Portugal clash on June 16.
The squad returned to Dusseldorf on Sunday after a training camp in
South Tyrol that lasted 10 days and helped to improve the physical
condition of the team. Several warm-up games against the accompanying
U20 squad proved to be a decent preparation.
The team went its separate ways on Monday afternoon - but Lahm,
Neuer and Schweinsteiger returned to Munich and spent the half-week
with the Bayern medical staff.
One final training session takes place in Mainz - which is hosting an
international match for the first time - before the last game against
the Armenians.
"Lahm and Bastian have no problems any more and they have been training
with the ball," Low said on Thursday.
"They will have some playing time. What is important though is that
they are problem-free. Maybe it makes no sense to play the entire 90
minutes but exactly how long is something I will decide this evening."
"Preparations, from my point of view, have worked out very well with
the players we had. I also think it was important for the players to
rest a couple of days (this week), for them to recover some energy."
Germany must sharpen up
Low and his players have been on the defensive this week following
Sunday's 2-2 draw with Cameroon in Monchengladbach.
Germany return to Dusseldorf after training camp in Austria
The Germans lacked thrust and energy in attack, with Mesut Ozil,
for one, on the end of some strong criticism over his performances
for the national team. The Arsenal attacking-midfielder has been
struggling for confidence in recent months, but his coach was quick
to protect the 25-year-old.
"To be honest I am a bit surprised by the reaction against Mesut,"
Low added at the pre-match press conference.
"Mesut won German national team player of the year last season but
it is clear that he has not performed to the fullest of his abilities
in the past few games."
Matches against Chile, meanwhile, highlighted how vulnerable the
team remains in defensive positions, as the South Americans somehow
failed to secure even a draw in Stuttgart, having dominated most of
the proceedings.
In other matches, a lackluster touch in the attacking-third has
appeared the largest threat to Germany's hopes of winning a fourth
World Cup.
The DFB team fired a blank against Poland in Hamburg, whilst
the Cameroon defense was rarely questioned with conviction. The
introduction of Lukas Podolski carried some intent in attacking
positions and the Arsenal attacker was pivotal in Germany's turnaround,
before Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting equalized.
Armenia, with Borussia Dortmund's Henrikh Mkhitaryan in their ranks,
won't be heading to the World Cup themselves, but will still offer
sturdy opposition for the Germans. The feeling around the team's
chances has been negative - perhaps realistic - and many are expecting
Germany to return from Brazil empty-handed.
That should do little to qualm the enthusiasm of the fans on Friday
who will demand a strong victory to round-off World Cup preparations.
http://www.dw.de/germany-prepare-to-battle-final-world-cup-test-against-armenia/a-17686145