Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (C) attends a national team training session in Frankfurt March ahead of their Euro 2016 qualifier away to Georgia tomorrow.
DPA/Berlin
Manuel Neuer returns between the posts and other world champions will also be back in the starting line-up tomorrow when Germany seek victory in a Euro 2016 qualifier in Georgia.
Neuer, who turned 29 yesterday, missed Wednesday’s 2-2 draw against Australia over a knee inflammation but is to be in the Tbilisi team along with captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng, Mats Hummels and Toni Kroos who were rested.
“We want to win this important game,” Neuer said.
The Bayern Munich keeper did not look good in their 2-0 Bundesliga defeat against Borussia Moenchengladbach last week, but he has won 44 of his 57 Germany games and let in only 49 goals in the process.
“Manu only blunders against Gladbach,” quipped assistant coach Thomas Schneider yesterday in reference to past Neuer mistakes against the same opponents. “We expect him to show another great performance against Georgia.”
While coach Joachim Loew experimented with new players and formations against Australia, he will rely on the tested players and tactics tomorrow.
Germany have had a stuttering start into the campaign after their World Cup title in July, losing in Poland, held by Ireland and unconvincing in their wins against Scotland and Gibraltar.
They trail leaders Poland by three points and victory is a must.
“We are under a bit of pressure but there is no panic ... The team knows what is at stake,” Schneider said.
Loew said “we know that we have to win” while midfielder Sami Khedira said “we know how serious the situation is in the Euro qualifiers, but we have no cause for concern.”
Munich’s Schweinsteiger is to lead the team in his first game since the World Cup final and being appointed captain in succession of Philipp Lahm who has ended his international career.
Inter Milan’s Lukas Podolski will likely only be on the subs bench despite scoring the late equalizer against Australia for his 48th national team goal which lifts him to third place in the German alltime list behind Miroslav Klose and Joachim Streich.
Loew’s team is made of of just 19 players as Munich defender Holger Badstuber (muscle injury) and Bayer Leverkusen forward Karim Bellarabi (flu) did not board yesterday’s flight to Tbilisi.
Georgia are second bottom in the group with three points, have lost all three previous matches against Germany, and a new coach in Kakhaber Tskhadadze, who played in Germany at Eintracht Frankfurt 1993-1996.
“Just the fact that we play against the world champions is a big challenge and responsibility,” Tskhadadze told dpa.
“It is also very pleasant because my players get the chance to prove themselves against the best national team in the world. I can see what my team is capable of - the game against Germany can give Georgian football a lot from a sporting point of view.”
