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'No more slip-ups'

Andreas Sten-Ziemons / rcOctober 15, 2014

Germany could only manage a 1-1 draw at home to Ireland and played far worse than they did against Poland. No single German player was convincing. From now on, Germany need wins in their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.

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EM-Qualifikation 2014 Deutschland - Irland
Image: Reuters/Ina Fassbender

Sometimes, it's alright to lose to Poland - especially considering that so many of Germany's regular players were missing. And despite the 2-0 defeat, the national side didn't actually play too badly in their qualifier last Saturday (11.10.2014).

What was all the more worrying was the uninspired performance of the national team against Ireland on Tuesday. Apart from a few balls lobbed into the penalty area, and a crossbar-smashing shot from Erik Durm at the beginning of the game - as well as the distance shot that gave Germany a 1-0 lead - the German team provided little in the way of surprises.

Meanwhile, the Irish did exactly what was expected of them ahead of the game. They played deep, did barely anything going forward and let the Germans take the game to them - a task that the national side was rarely able to do.

Andreas Sten-Ziemons
Andreas Sten-ZiemonsImage: DW

The Irish defense does indeed include some robust warhorses, but the German team had enough technical class to break down such a defensive barrier. The only problem was, they didn't show it.

Points of consolation

As a result, the national team has come away with just four points from their first three qualifying matches for EURO 2016. Joachim Löw's team can no longer allow themselves any slip-ups. The results of the other teams in Group D show that anyone can beat anyone - or at least pose a threat - and all are capable of picking up points. Even against world champions Germany.

There are two points of consolation for Joachim Löw and his team. For one, Germany are unlikely to ever have as many injuries and illnesses to contend with in the future, as they did against Ireland. When Marco Reus, Andre Schürrle, Mesut Özil, Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger are fit again, they will have more experienced and better alternatives on the pitch.

Meanwhile, in the last EURO 2016 qualification match of the year Germany "only" have to face Gibraltar. Against this plucky, but very much inferior amateur side - whose players include policemen and harbor workers - Germany should be able to earn the sort of unchallenged, runaway victory of the type that eluded them against Ireland.