DPA/Berlin

A defeat in Poland was not exactly what Germany expected in their early Euro 2016 qualifying matches but almost a year on, the world champions are ready for revenge against the Poles as they edge towards the finals in France.
Losing captain Philipp Lahm and striker Miroslav Klose to international retirement after their triumph in Brazil last year was always going to cause problems for Germany, as proved by last October’s 2-0 loss in Warsaw, a first defeat to Poland in 19 games.
A home draw with Ireland followed straight after the Poland defeat but coach Joachim Loew has since had time to integrate new players to replace some of his old guard with two easy wins over minnows Gibraltar and a hard-fought victory in Georgia.
Now they meet Poland again in Frankfurt tomorrow and new captain Bastian Schweinsteiger (pic) is fired up. “We will take them on with all our might so we can gain revenge for the defeat in Poland,” the midfielder told reporters. “We must go on the attack, we need the points.”
In truth, Germany’s situation is not as desperate as it might have been. They trail Poland by a point at the top of Group D but with the Euro 2016 finals having been expanded to 24 teams, the top two go through automatically.
Poland have 14 points, Germany 13 and Scotland, who host Loew’s side on Monday, are on 11.
The loss of record goalscorer Klose means the burden in attack has been shared and one man hoping to benefit is Mario Goetze.
The forward netted the winner as Germany defeated Argentina to lift the World Cup in July 2014 but he has barely featured for Bayern Munich since, spending most of his time on the bench.
A run-out for Germany in a key game could give Goetze the perfect opportunity to show Bayern boss Pep Guardiola his worth.
Lahm was equally as inspirational as Klose and has largely been replaced by Sebastian Rudy on the right side of defence. Little known outside Germany, the Hoffenheim player looks to be Loew’s long-term solution.
At least Rudy knows Poland’s main attacking threat well with Robert Lewandowski having banged in the goals for Borussia Dortmund and now Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.
Lewandowski has tried to fuel the fire by suggesting Germany think they will simply glide towards the finals in France.
“I live there and see how no one even entertains the idea that they could be missing at the European Championship next year. They view qualification as a sure thing,” he said.
Loew is too canny to allow any complacency and in any case, many of his World Cup big guns who were rested for the 7-0 thrashing of Gibraltar in June return to face Poland.
Manuel Neuer, Thomas Mueller, Toni Kroos and Mats Hummels will all be in Frankfurt alongside Schweinsteiger. “It is a very difficult task, but we have to do it,” Schweinsteiger said. “We need to make sure we play two good halves, we work well in defence, use our quality to create chances and score goals.”
Poland are brimming with confidence following their win over the Germans and a good run so far, with Bayern Munich forward Robert Lewandowski leading their charge to the top of the group.
Several other Bundesliga players are adding experience to the squad, who are ready to cause another upset.
“I live in Germany and I can tell you nobody is even contemplating missing out on the Euro finals,” Lewandowski, who has scored seven goals in six qualifiers, told reporters ahead of their two games which also include minnows Gibraltar on Sept. 7.
“The only question is whether they will finish top of the group or runners-up. But Germany look at us differently now. They respect us.
“I don’t think they will swarm all over us from the beginning as they know we could hit them on the counterattack. Certainly the perception of the Polish national team has changed in recent times.
“It reflects that we are a team that beat the world champions and we lead the group. I hope after the next two matches we remain in first place.”   

World champions call for help for refugees
Germany’s World Cup-winning footballers have condemned xenophobic attacks on the thousands of foreigners pouring into their country and led calls to help the refugees amidst the ongoing crisis here.
Led by captain Bastian Schweinsteiger, a group of players appear in a video holding up signs condemning violence and calling for “respect”, “help”, “integration” and “fairplay” towards any refugee arriving in Germany.
Europe’s biggest economy this year expects a record 800,000 asylum applications, more than any other EU country. More than 100 migrants an hour arrived in Germany yesterday amid a record influx travelling on packed trains to the southern city of Munich, said police.
So far this year, German police have recorded over 125,000 illegal entries, more than double last year’s total of about 57,000, with many coming from war-torn Syria, followed by Eritrea, Afghanistan, Kosovo and Serbia.
The message of support from Germany’s football stars, who are preparing for tomorrow’s Euro 2016 qualifier at home against Poland, is bound to carry weight in the soccer-mad country.
“Of course, we are concerned about the issue. It’s important for us to set an example”,” said Germany’s team manager Oliver Bierhoff with the video posted on www.dfb.de—the German Football Association’s (DFB) website.
Midfielder Toni Kroos said the squad felt they had “a duty to do something against violence and xenophobia”.
“My attitude is that Germany, as one of the richest countries on earth, must help,” added the Real Madrid star.
Bayern Munich star Thomas Mueller said a solution to the problem must be found, but added “first of all, our duty is to help people”.
Germany midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, whose parents are Turkish immigrants, said he had been affected by the news 71 bodies were found in an abandoned lorry in Austria last Friday, with many of the victims believed to be Syrians.
“It’s incredibly sad,” he told the Mainpost newspaper. “I hope those responsible are found and held accountable.”

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