Germany’s worst result since 1931 raises questions about the coach’s methods and the players he has frozen out The fourth official was preparing to raise the board for one last time when Luis Enrique drew up close and said something to him. Even in the quiet of an empty arena the Spain manager couldn’t be heard clearly, but he seemed to be suggesting there was no need to add any more time. Germany had had enough, and long ago. To his left, Joachim Löw sat in the shadow of the bench, not moving, which is how he had sat for most of the night. Above him, Oliver Bierhoff, the national team director, watched in silence alongside the substitutes.The board went...
Germany v Netherlands should be another belter, Chad make their return and will Brighton’s Mac Allister play for Argentina?Before October 2018, the Netherlands had not kicked a ball in anger against Germany for six years. When the teams walk out for the Group C qualifier in Hamburg, it will be the fourth time the fierce rivals have faced each other in 11 months. Not that neutrals should be complaining. There have been 12 goals in the two Nations League matches and one Euro 2020 qualifier that have been played since – and some scintillating football. Nico Schulz’s 90th-minute strike for Germany sealed a 3-2 victory in a pulsating qualifier at the Johan Cruyff Arena in March that left the Dutch...
Manager insists he knows how to cope with pressure before Euro 2020 qualifier against the Netherlands but there is a sense that the country has fallen out of love with its national teamBefore the game against Serbia, Germany’s followers displayed a huge choreography, forming the letters “Danke” with three numbers underneath them: 5, 13 and 17.It was the fans’ way of saying thank you to Mats Hummels, Thomas Müller and Jérôme Boateng, the three world champions who had been unceremoniously dumped by Joachim Löw at the beginning of the month and told they would not be considered for selection again in the near future. Related: Thomas Müller 'angry' after Joachim Löw says he has no Germany future Related: Leroy Sané...
Montenegro and Serbia’s historic meeting, unhappy memories for England and the Republic of Ireland, and Georgi Petkov’s international return – at 42Twelve years after Montenegro achieved independence and 11 years after they were formally recognised by Fifa, they meet Serbia for the first time. The match is, according to goalkeeper Danijel Petkovic, the biggest in the nation’s history. After two games the teams are level on points at the top of Group C4, adding competitive edge to an already spicy encounter. Serbia are far from full strength: Crystal Palace’s Luka Milivojevic is one of several players to have dropped out of the squad since the World Cup after falling out with the manager, Mladen Krstajic, while the captain, Nemanja Matic,...
Having ridden out a storm, Argentina may yet go far in this tournament whereas Germany paid the price for not being united or mentally equipped to deal with setbacksIn life it can be known as the moment of truth but in football it is the moment of adversity. It is the moment when as a team you find yourselves trying to cope with pressure, bad performances and even off-field problems which have combined to jeopardise your continued participation in the world’s greatest football tournament. You know that how you react will define your opportunity to lift the World Cup and become part of history.This week Germany and Argentina stared into the abyss of impending failure when adversity struck both sides...