Germany vs Scotland UEFA Euro Qualifying 07-09-2014

Germany vs Scotland
Competition: UEFA Euro Qualifying, Group D
Match date: Sunday, 7 September 2014
Kick Off Time: 19:45 BST - 18:45 GMT
Venue: Signal Iduna Park, Dortmund, Germany

Germany lost the first match after the World Cup final 2:4 at home on Wednesday, and it was Yes! Argentina who beat them. Actually the Germans started to this friendly with only four finalists. Captain Philipp Lahm, Miroslav Klose and Per Mertesacker retired after the World Cup, the new captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Sami Khedira, Jérôme Boateng, Mats Hummels, Mesut Özil and Shkodran Mustafi were all injured. So it was not a big surprise that the newly constituted defence had huge problems, conceded four goals within the first 50 minutes. However, against Scotland we will see a different German side, Jérôme Boateng will return, also Thomas Müller and Mario Götze will play from the beginning. Because of the injury problems coach Joachim Löw nominated Sidney Sam (Schalke) for the match on Sunday.

Scotland team could not qualify for a major tournament since the World Cup 1998. The Scottish clubs currently face difficult times, but since Gordon Strachan has become national coach in January 2013 the ‘Bravehearts’ appear to make progress, are currently unbeaten for six games. Actually they kept clean sheets in four of the last five games, won friendlies in Poland and Norway 1:0 recently, also gained a 2:2 in Nigeria’s last World Cup test in May. This match has been Scotland’s last run-out so far, since then the two key midfielders Robert Snodgrass and captain Scott Brown became injured, will not be not be able to play in Dortmund as well as the defenders Andrew Robertson and Christophe Berra. Several players of Gordon’s squad already displayed good form so far this season, striker Steven Naismith even scored in all three Premier League games for Everton while Chris Martin marked the 1:0 winner for Fulham last week.

Probable lineups:

Germany: Neuer – Groskreutz, Howedes, J. Boateng, Durm – Kramer, T. Kroos – T. Muller, Reus, Schurrle – M. Gotze

Scotland: McGregor – Hutton, Hanley, R. Martin, Whittaker – D. Fletcher, McArthur – Maloney, J. Morrison, Bannan – Naismith

 

Germany last 5 matches:
30/06/14 Germany E 2 – 1 Algeria
04/07/14 France 0 – 1 Germany
08/07/14 Brazil 1 – 7 Germany
13/07/14 Germany E 1 – 0 Argentina
03/09/14 Germany 2 – 4 Argentina

Scotland last 5 matches:
15/10/13 Scotland 2 – 0 Croatia
15/11/13 Scotland 0 – 0 United States
19/11/13 Norway 0 – 1 Scotland
05/03/14 Poland 0 – 1 Scotland
28/05/14 Nigeria 2 – 2 Scotland

 

You can watch the match here: Link 1 , Link 2 [Live Scores]