Netherlands are the strongest opponents in our group- Joachim Low
The latest fixture between the two sides ended in a 2-3 victory for the Germans.
Germany head coach Joachim Low and the senior national side has been preparing for the two UEFA Euro Qualifiers that are to be played in this international break. Germany will host the Netherlands in their first game on Friday and then will travel to play Northern Ireland in an away game.
The players, fresh from the break after playing the first few league games of the season, have been ready to go for the maximum points and win the group. The team that was supposed to challenge on all fronts in the World Cup but failed to do so, has since undergone a revolution with Joachim Low.
And the move seems to have worked for the team as the results have turned for good. The team that lost points in both their games against the Netherlands in the UEFA Nations League has now started winning.
????️ #Löw: "We want to keep playing with a front three. We can set up in a 4-3-3 or a 5-2-3 though. The team are very capable of doing both."#DieMannschaft #GERNED pic.twitter.com/5hnPtCj4xg
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) September 5, 2019
In the three games played between the two sides since the World Cup, Germany has lost one, drawn one and won one in the same order. The victory against one of their biggest rivals has instilled confidence back in the side with the players believing they can win the group.
But Low doesn't seem to agree with it. In an interview with the German federation before the game, he said, "From the results, you could interpret it that way, yes. But if you take a closer look at the course of the game, you might end up with different results."
"For example, the win in Amsterdam in March eventually ended in victory, but after a very strong first half, we got weaker in the second section and scored the winning goal only through a late counter-attack."
"If we’re honest, we didn’t win that game based on our performance alone, there was a lot of luck involved. That game also showed that we are still vulnerable in the second half and that we need to improve. We need to consistently be able to go the distance in each game."
With the team already having faced the Netherlands thrice in the past 12 months and now playing at home after having won the latest fixture between two sides would make Germany the favourites for the game.
The nervous cone exchange. The search for stragglers. The tactical tricks. Musical cones has it all ????#DieMannschaft #GERNED pic.twitter.com/aEKS7xLkUI
— Germany (@DFB_Team_EN) September 4, 2019
One would also expect Low to not having to plan much for the game and rather do what he did the last time the two teams met. But the German coach doesn't agree with it.
"Of course [you still have to plan], especially because it’s about the minute details when you have a high-profile opponent like the Netherlands.
[KH_RELATED_NEWS title="Related News"][/KH_RELATED_NEWS]"The Netherlands are the strongest opponents in our group, they are well-drilled, and they have a great team with some outstanding individual players. They had a great season in the Nations League.
"At this level, it can be crucial to really know every aspect of the game and prepare our players accordingly. That’s what the players expect from us."
Latest News
- This was the hardest ever season for me as a coach, says Kerala Blasters coach Ivan Vukomanovic
- ISL 2023-24 Playoffs: Odisha FC vs Kerala Blasters: Report & Highlights
- ISL 2023-24: Odisha FC outwit Kerala Blasters in another 'comeback' masterclass
- We're going to fight till the end, announces Sergio Lobera after victory over Kerala Blasters
- 'LOB-ERA' - Odisha FC fans laud Kerala Blasters triumph in ISL 2023-24 playoffs
Editor Picks
- Top 10 goalkeepers with most clean sheets in Champions League history
- Top 10 most profitable academies in football world
- Top 10 longest penalty shootouts in football history
- Top 10 footballers to score vital goal against their former club
- Top 10 football players to score & celebrate against their former club