World Cup glow diminishes for below-par home side

PLAYED one, won one. On the face of it, Saturday was everything the Germans wanted from their first Group D qualifier but Michael Ballack was far from happy with his side’s display in Stuttgart.

Though they peppered the Irish goal throughout, the home side failed to click as fluidly as they had during the World Cup.

Neither were the hiccups confined to their attacking efforts. Yet again, they looked less than secure at the back, especially at set plays.