Düsseldorf (dpa) – Joachim Löw cannot yet afford the pain of parting. In the 33rd and last World Cup qualifier of his eternal era, the newly motivated national coach wants to take the recovered momentum of the national soccer team with him into the hot EM preparations.
The order for the international game premiere against the outsider from North Macedonia on March 31 (8:45 p.m. / RTL) in Duisburg is therefore: Keep the tension high, stir up the competition and meet the clear nine-point target on the way to Qatar in 2022.
“There is no way of feeling sad. I am not concerned with the situation that I will quit after the EM. All strength goes to this game, the tournament and the preparation, ”said Löw before the third game within seven days. After the victories against Iceland (3: 0) and in Romania (1: 0), the totally focused Löw vehemently counteracts an impending decline in concentration.
“You are washed with all hands. They are no worse than the Romanians. It will be another feat of strength to win the game, ”warned the 61-year-old about the only other European Championship participant in the World Cup qualifying group around old star and rascal Goran Pandev. The world number 65. has won most of his victories so far against opponents in the Liechtenstein, Azerbaijan and Malta category.
With the third victory in the third game of the year, which was firmly calculated in spite of the warning words, the way to the World Cup would be well paved for Löw’s not yet named successor in the European group J (ogi). Löw could finish the 76-day sprint up to the explosive European Championship kick-off on June 15 in the Munich arena against world champion France with all his tournament meticulousness and without interference or constant reminders of the 6-0 disgrace in Spain, which was classified as done approach.
Marc-André ter Stegen will be back in goal for the first time after the 6-1 win against Northern Ireland, which took place in the pre-Corona period in November 2019. Before the Bundesliga summit against RB Leipzig, however, captain Manuel Neuer does not return to Munich early as usual. Löw’s signal is clear: it would be dangerous to slack off even a little now.
The starting line-up options Timo Werner in attack, Robin Gosens in the back four or Florian Neuhaus in the strong midfield block did not get a clear signal from Löw early on. The national coach announced that he would first want to consult with regulars like Leroy Sané or Leon Goretzka about their fitness level. After the early morning return from Romania the day before, the two Munich residents, who had recently been slightly ailing, were thoroughly checked by the team doctors on a “day of regeneration”.
Replacement captain will be Ilkay Gündogan, Löw has already revealed. “We noticed that we have new opportunities again and that we have other games with the World Cup qualification,” said the midfielder at Manchester City, describing the noticeable change in mentality compared to the debacle in Seville.
The atmosphere, which has changed massively for the better since Löw’s announcement of his resignation at the beginning of the month, is also documented by the self-confident statements made by two winners of the successful start to the year. “I see us very motivated on the pitch. I hear us loud, we have a lot of quality, ”said Emre Can – Löw’s new premium alternative as a left-back.
“We need three points, there is nothing else,” said Kai Havertz. The young offensive man convinced despite his starting difficulties at Chelsea in the DFB jersey on the right wing and thus in the position that Thomas Müller could claim in the event of a comeback.
Löw sees a need for improvement, who recommended that the DFB also ask team greats like Neuer or Toni Kroos when looking for a successor, but basically. If it was the constancy over 90 minutes against Iceland after the turbo start, there was a lack of efficiency in the final against Romania. “We are satisfied that we started the qualification with six points, we can work on exploiting opportunities,” commented DFB director Oliver Bierhoff.
North Macedonia is still a big unknown in DFB history. For the first time in the 113-year history of international matches, there will be a duel with the still young state from the territory of the former Yugoslavia. It is unrealistic that the underdog of all people will damage Löw’s flawless record in World Cup qualifiers shortly before his European Championship premiere this summer. In 13 years, Löw has played 32 qualifying games for World Cup tournaments. 29 were won, three times there was a draw; twice against Finland (3: 3, 1: 1) before the 2010 tournament in South Africa and most recently in the legendary 4: 4 against Sweden after a 4: 0 lead in October 2012 on the way to a World Cup triumph in Brazil.
Expected lineups:
Germany: ter Stegen (FC Barcelona / 28 years old / 24 international matches) – Klostermann (RB Leipzig / 24/12), Ginter (Borussia Mönchengladbach / 27/37), Rüdiger (FC Chelsea / 28/39), Can (Borussia Dortmund / 27/32) – Goretzka (Bayern Munich / 26/31), Kimmich (Bayern Munich / 26/52), Gündogan (Manchester City / 30/44) – Havertz (FC Chelsea / 21/12), Gnabry (Bayern Munich / 25/19), Sané (Bayern Munich / 25/27)
North Macedonia: Dimitrievski (Rayo Vallecano / 27/39) – Bejtulai (Shkendija Tetovo / 27/18), Musliu (FC Fehervar / 26/28), Velkovski (HNK Rijeka / 25/26) – Ademi (Dinamo Zagreb / 29/22) ) – Ristovski (Dinamo Zagreb / 29/62), Bardhi (UD Levante / 25/33), Elmas (SSC Neapel / 21/24), Alioski (Leeds United / 29/41) – Trajkovski (RCD Mallorca / 28/62 ), Pandev (GFC Genoa 1893/37/116)
Referee: Karasew (Russia)
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