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STUTTERING GERMANY LOOKING FOR BOOST AGAINST ARMENIA
Gulf Times, Qatar
June 5 2014
Germany play Armenia in Mainz on Friday in their final warm-up game
before the World Cup begins and Joachim Loew's team is in need of a
win to boost morale.
The contrast between Germany at the end of 2013 and mid-2014 is
striking. In autumn last year, they scored five in a thrilling display
against Sweden in Stockholm, drew in Italy and won in England.
This year the team squeezed out an undeserved victory against Chile
and been held to home draws by Poland and Cameroon. Joachim Loew
has been forced to watch as a number of players have lost club form
while several others have been sidelined with injury, but he remains
positive for the World Cup in Brazil.
"I am absolutely confident and optimistic that in two weeks we will
be in much better shape," Loew said after the Cameroon match.
Anything less than a win against Armenia, and a convincing one at
that, will ensure Loew and Germany head to Brazil on Saturday with
more questions than answers surrounding the squad.
But topping the list of queries is the fitness of Bayern Munich trio
Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. While they
have resumed individual training, it is not yet known if returns are
possible against Armenia.
Of near equal concern is who should lead the line from a squad which
contains only one out and out striker, Lazio's veteran Miroslav Klose.
Though a prolific scorer and tireless worker for the team, Klose's
season has been plagued by injury and he did not face Cameroon.
Mario Goetze was used as a false nine, to little impact, in that game
before Thomas Mueller fared better and scored in the second half.
Marco Reus confirmed his status a definite starter, though presumably
on the wing, but playmaker Mesut Oezil failed to impress. Substitutes
Andre Schuerrle and Lukas Podolski boosted their claims for starting
spots by combining for the second goal so there are options to choose
from for Loew who must try to find the right blend less than two
weeks before the World Cup starts.
"Of all the players selected I have 100 per cent confidence. We have
the right mix of youth and talent and players with lots of experience,"
Loew said after the training camp. "Our squad is balanced, with two
players in every position. Our players have character, this team
has character, and we will go to Brazil with confidence and with
big goals."
Armenia won a recent friendly with the United Arab Emirates but a 3-1
loss to Algeria on Saturday suggests that they lack the quality needed
to seriously threaten Germany. But that puts all the more pressure
on the side to dominate, score goals and win in style on the eve of
Saturday's departure to Brazil.
http://www.gulf-times.com/sport/192/details/394895/stuttering-germany-looking-for-boost-against-armenia
Gulf Times, Qatar
June 5 2014
Germany play Armenia in Mainz on Friday in their final warm-up game
before the World Cup begins and Joachim Loew's team is in need of a
win to boost morale.
The contrast between Germany at the end of 2013 and mid-2014 is
striking. In autumn last year, they scored five in a thrilling display
against Sweden in Stockholm, drew in Italy and won in England.
This year the team squeezed out an undeserved victory against Chile
and been held to home draws by Poland and Cameroon. Joachim Loew
has been forced to watch as a number of players have lost club form
while several others have been sidelined with injury, but he remains
positive for the World Cup in Brazil.
"I am absolutely confident and optimistic that in two weeks we will
be in much better shape," Loew said after the Cameroon match.
Anything less than a win against Armenia, and a convincing one at
that, will ensure Loew and Germany head to Brazil on Saturday with
more questions than answers surrounding the squad.
But topping the list of queries is the fitness of Bayern Munich trio
Manuel Neuer, Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger. While they
have resumed individual training, it is not yet known if returns are
possible against Armenia.
Of near equal concern is who should lead the line from a squad which
contains only one out and out striker, Lazio's veteran Miroslav Klose.
Though a prolific scorer and tireless worker for the team, Klose's
season has been plagued by injury and he did not face Cameroon.
Mario Goetze was used as a false nine, to little impact, in that game
before Thomas Mueller fared better and scored in the second half.
Marco Reus confirmed his status a definite starter, though presumably
on the wing, but playmaker Mesut Oezil failed to impress. Substitutes
Andre Schuerrle and Lukas Podolski boosted their claims for starting
spots by combining for the second goal so there are options to choose
from for Loew who must try to find the right blend less than two
weeks before the World Cup starts.
"Of all the players selected I have 100 per cent confidence. We have
the right mix of youth and talent and players with lots of experience,"
Loew said after the training camp. "Our squad is balanced, with two
players in every position. Our players have character, this team
has character, and we will go to Brazil with confidence and with
big goals."
Armenia won a recent friendly with the United Arab Emirates but a 3-1
loss to Algeria on Saturday suggests that they lack the quality needed
to seriously threaten Germany. But that puts all the more pressure
on the side to dominate, score goals and win in style on the eve of
Saturday's departure to Brazil.
http://www.gulf-times.com/sport/192/details/394895/stuttering-germany-looking-for-boost-against-armenia