World Cup Qualifier Preview: Northern Ireland - v - Germany

NORTHERN IRELAND

The World Champions will be welcomed to Belfast by the usual raucous Windsor Park roar from the capacity home crowd and by a Northern Ireland team who have won their last five qualifiers without conceding a goal.

 

The last defeat for Michael O’Neill’s men, indeed Northern Ireland’s only loss in this qualifying campaign, came at the hands of Germany, when they suffered a 2-0 defeat in Hannover last November.

 

The Green and White Army have already guarenteed second place in the group but haven’t mathematically secured a play-off spot just yet.

 

Top spot looks to be beyond them though as they need to win their last two games (Thursday’s 7.45pm kick off in Belfast and the trip to Norway on Sunday) and hope the World Champions, as well as losing in Windsor Park, are defeated at home to Azerbaijan in Kaiserslautern in their final game.

 

It has been a great campaign for Northern Ireland so far, as they look to make back-to-back major tournaments. Speaking at the pre-match press conference, manager Michael O'Neill said that his "players have done the work now. Whatever happens here it won't take away from that, it will only enhance it."



 

The difficulty they face is that Germany have never lost an away match in World Cup qualification. “It will be a really difficult task up against the Germans,” admitted Northern Ireland captain Steven Davis.

 

“It would rank up there with any of the best results in the Northern Ireland jersey but we believe we can get something from the game.

 

“They don't come much bigger than this but we are going to try to enjoy the game as much as possible. We've put ourselves in an unbelievable position at the minute with two games to go but it's important that we try to finish as strongly as possible." 



 

With a play-off position almost secure Millwall defender Conor McLaughlin feels that it frees up his side up to take on Germany.

 

"The pressure is off us for the game. They're expected to win but we want to prove to ourselves that we can get a result against the World Champions. We know it's going to be tough but we're looking forward to it.

 

"We can go into the game and try to show what we can do. There has been special nights at Windsor Park before against big teams and hopefully we can add to that, and there's none bigger than the current World Champions.”

 

 

GERMANY

Having secured eight wins from eight in the qualifying campaign to date, Germany have their eyes on the prize of qualification for the World Cup when they take on Northern Ireland in Belfast.

 

With a play-off already guaranteed, they just need a point from Windsor Park to top the group and earn a berth at Russia 2018 to defend their crown.

 

Joachim Low has been dealt a number of injury blows to his squad but is boosted by the return of Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng. Low confirmed on the eve of the game that Boeteng will come straight into his starting line up.

 

“Jerome is showing all the signs of feeling good,” said Low about the 29-year-old player. “You have to be careful about overdoing it after a long time out but my plan is to have him in from the start tomorrow.”

 

18 of the 22 players who have made the squad were part of the group that won the Confederations Cup in Russia earlier in the year. “Our aim at the Confed Cup was to give many new players a chance. I’m now pleased we have even more options at our disposal.

 

“We have goalscorers in our squad. (Thomas) Muller, (Julian) Brandt, (Leroy) Sane, (Julian) Draxler, (Sandro) Wagner, (Amin) Younes and others – they are all players who get chances and are dangerous in front of goal. These players will create chances. If we carry out our game plan, we are very dangerous, regardless of which players are on the pitch.”

 

Besides from Germany’s win earlier in the campaign, the sides also met at last year’s Euros with Germany emerging 1-0 winners in a Parc des Princes in Paris that had a sea of Green and White Army supporters cheering on their team.

 

 “At the Euros they always brought a great atmosphere, as was the case in Hannover in the reverse fixture,” said Low about the Northern Ireland supporters.

 

“So we already know that they will be singing throughout the entire match. The fans are special, and it has a really positive impact on players when they are so well supported from the stands.

 

“They have secured the runner-up spot but can still beat us to the top spot and will be willing to risk everything with an all or nothing attitude. The crowd will be so buoyant and the players will be raring to go and determined to go into every tackle. They spread the ball well, play very disciplined football and have kept seven clean sheets.”

 

Also speaking to the press ahead of the game was Mats Hummels who was stressing the danger they face on Thursday evening. “The Northern Irish are having a great qualifying campaign with a very strong defensive record. Their home record (no defeats in four years) is very impressive. We know what a fortress this place can be.

 

Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)

 

 

MATCH STATS

Northern Ireland beat Germany twice during qualifying for the 1984 World Cup Finals. Ian Stewart scored the only goal in Belfast with Norman Whiteside doing likewise in Hamburg. The current Northern Ireland assistant boss Jimmy Nicholl played in both of those matches.

 

The sides played out a 2-2 draw in the group stage of the 1958 World Cup.

 

Germany's competitive record against Northern Ireland is seven wins, two draws and two defeats.

 

 

BETTING

Northern Ireland 10/1; Draw 9/2; Germany 2/7.

 

 

PREDICTION

2-0 away win

 

 

Northern Ireland

Injured: Craig Cathcart, Liam Boyce, Jamie Ward, Aaron Hughes and Paddy McNair.

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

 

 

Germany

Injured: Mesut Ozil, Mario Gotze, Sami Khedira, Manuel Neuer, Jonas Hector, Timo Werner.

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

 

 

Extratime.ie will be covering Thursday’s game live from Windsor Park.

    About Macdara Ferris

    Macdara Ferris is a contributor since 2007 to Hoops Scene (Shamrock Rovers' match day programme) and is the co-author of two books on Shamrock Rovers - 'Tallaght Time: Shamrock Rovers 2009 to 2012' (with Karl … View Full Profile